National school - kokumin gakko

The name of Japan's primary schools (elementary schools) that existed from the promulgation of the National School Act in 1941 (Showa 16) until the promulgation of the School Education Act in 1947. The existing subjects were integrated into four subjects: National Studies (morals, Japanese language, national history, geography), Science and Mathematics (arithmetic, science), Physical Training (gymnastics, martial arts), and Performing Arts (music, calligraphy, arts and crafts, sewing), and aimed to train Imperial citizens who were one in mind and body and who could be consistent in their words and actions in response to the total war posture leading up to the Pacific War. The emphasis on school events and group training was also a reflection of this era. National schools were set at six years for the elementary school course and two years for the high school course, and eight years of compulsory education was set, but this was postponed until the end of the war.

[Tsubura Kiyoji]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

1941年（昭和16）の国民学校令の公布から47年の学校教育法の公布まで存続した、わが国の初等学校（小学校）の名称。従来の教科を国民科（修身、国語、国史、地理）、理数科（算数、理科）、体錬科（体操、武道）、芸能科（音楽、習字、図画及工作、裁縫）の4教科に統合し、太平洋戦争への総力戦体制に対応して言行一致・心身一体の皇国民錬成の教育を目ざした。学校行事や団体訓練が重視されたのも、この時代の反映であろう。国民学校は初等科6年、高等科2年とし、この8年を義務教育と定めたが、実施延期のまま終戦を迎えた。

［津布楽喜代治］

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