Keimeikai - Keimeikai

The first teachers' union was formed in 1919 (Taisho 8) with Shimonaka Yasaburo at its center. The difficulties faced by elementary school teachers due to rising prices during the Taisho period, and the climate of Taisho democracy, brought momentum for unionization in the education world as well. In the declaration of its founding, Keimeikai was characterized as an ideological movement group for educators with an idealistic stance, but the following year, it changed its name to the Japan Teachers' Union Keimeikai, upholding a platform of democratizing educational ideals and equal educational opportunities. From an initial membership of just over 100, it grew to over 1,500 at its peak, and continued to exist until 1928 (Showa 3). It is recognized as being of great significance for marking the starting point of the teachers' union movement and bridging the gap from the view of clerical profession (vocation) to the view of labor.

[Hiroki Otsuki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

1919年（大正8）下中弥三郎(しもなかやさぶろう)を中心として結成された最初の教員組合。大正期の物価騰貴による小学校教員の生活難と、大正デモクラシーの風潮は、教育界にも組合結成の気運をもたらした。啓明会結成の宣言では、理想主義的立場による教育者の思想運動団体という性格が強かったが、翌20年には、教育理想の民衆化、教育の機会均等などの綱領を掲げて日本教員組合啓明会と改称した。当初の100余名から最盛時には1500余名を数えるまでになり、1928年（昭和3）まで存続した。教員組合運動の出発点をなし、聖職（天職）観から労働者観への橋渡しをしたことなどに大きな意義が認められる。

［大槻宏樹］

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