Ryoichi Ishii

A social work practitioner, he played a pioneering role in the education of mentally handicapped children. Born in Saga Prefecture. He was baptized while studying at Tsukiji Rikkyo School (now Rikkyo University) and became a devout Christian. He became vice principal of Rikkyo Girls' School, but after the Nobi earthquake in 1891 (Meiji 24), he took in over 20 orphans, including children with intellectual disabilities, and founded the Orphan Girls' School, which later became Japan's first institution for mentally handicapped children, Takinogawa Gakuen. He was particularly interested in the education of mentally handicapped children, and visited institutions for mentally handicapped children all over the United States, devoting himself to researching how to treat them and practicing education. The results of his work were published in "Idiot Children, Their Research and Education" (1904). He applied the scientific methods of religious education, physiology, and psychology to both the theory and practice of education for mentally handicapped children, and dedicated his life to solving the problems of mentally handicapped children, including founding the Japan Association for the Protection of Mentally Retarded Children.

[Jouji Ogura]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

社会事業実践家。とくに知的障害児教育に先駆的役割を果たした。佐賀県生まれ。築地(つきじ)立教学校（現、立教大学）在学中に受洗、熱心なキリスト教信者となる。立教女学院の教頭となったが、1891年（明治24）の濃尾(のうび)地震に際し、知的障害児を含む孤児20余名を引き取り、孤女学院を創設、これがのちに日本最初の知的障害児施設滝乃川学園となる。とくに知的障害児の教育に強い関心をもち、アメリカ各地の知的障害児施設を見学し、その処遇方法の研究、教育実践に専念。その成果は『白痴児、その研究および教育』（1904）として刊行。宗教教育と生理学、心理学の科学的方法を知的障害児教育の理論と実践の両面に生かし、また日本精神薄弱児愛護協会の結成など、一生を知的障害児問題の解決に捧(ささ)げた。

［小倉襄二］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例