a. Elementary School System

The 1879 Education Order, which retained the same age requirement for entering elementary schools and the same length of eight-year school age as in the Education System Order, provided the minimum sixteen months of school attendance for general education in the school age. Instruction in general education outside of the schools was also recognized. The establishment of local public elementary schools could be done by towns or villages either individually or jointly, and where adequate private institutions were already available, these local communities were excused from the responsibility of setting up and maintaining local public schools. Impoverished localities which were unable to support regular schools were permitted instruction by means of itinerant teachers.

While with the central authorities providing general policies, the 1879 Education Order provided that educational committeemen of the respective towns and villages could implement these policies as they saw fit. Unfortunately, many educational committeemen decided to use their discretion to undo much of the work that had been achieved under the Education System Order and thus the educational situation quickly began to revert to the level of the terakoya. Criticism ensued and leading to such that in December 1880, reforms had to be carried out by the 1880 Education Order. The 1880 Order stipulated the minimum term of attendance at elementary schools as sixteen weeks per year over not less than three-year period. Moreover, schools were to be open throughout the year.

As stated above, the 1885 Education Order was proclaimed in August, 1885, to relieve local communities of part of the burden of their educational expenses.

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