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PART lssues and Perspectives of Elementaryand Secondary Education

Social changes represented by urbanization, a movement away from extended families to nuclear families and a smaller number of children in increasingly well-to-do families have significantly influenced contemporary pupils. Particularly pupils today are said to be in short of first hand experiences in various aspects of life. This is not a minor issue as it is directly related to school education.

Opportunities, for example, to deeply appreciate life and value labor through contact with nature or to learn how to persevere and overcome hardships have decreased in families and communities. Opportunities to obtain various kinds of knowledge and skills through various life experiences and to build social maturity by overcoming difficulties of life through one's own efforts have also decreased.

Due to limited life and social experiences, children find it difficult to learn basic skills and social customs necessary in daily life. The results of a survey conducted by the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture prove the existence of this problem. For example, many pupils answered negatively to the questions on whether they spoke politely to parents, whether they helped with dish washing and whether they helped with house cleaning. Concerning skills necessary in daily life, a considerable number of pupils answered that they were almost unable to peel fruit, sew buttons, or hold chopsticks correctly. Factors like living in cities, watching television for a long time, and limited time to play outside have been found to be deeply related to the weakness in the knowledge of basic customs in life and the necessary skills to live.

Chart -1-14 How Much Do Pupils Learn Habits for Daily Living

Chart -1-15 How Are Pupils Able to Handle Necessary Skills in Daily Life?

Table -1-8 Important Items to Cultivate in Children

Table -1-9 Types of Guidance Parents Expect from Schools

A public opinion poll on education conducted by the Public Relations Office of the Prime Minister's Office also reveals that many people regard "basic habits of life" as the focus of discipline at home and express their wish that elementary schools engage themselves more heavily in instructing basic habits of life.