（1）Planning for the Establishment of a Modern Educational System

From its inception, the Department of Education intended to establish a nationwide educational system. In preparing for this task, the Department pursued three separate investigations: to examine Western educational systems as possible models for Japan, to make inquiries into the nature of the national education as it existed then and, finally, to establish schools in the areas under its own immediate supervision and experiment with new educational practices.

Actually detailed information on the existing conditions of American and European educational systems had been introduced into Japan even prior to the establishment of the Department of Education. Fukuzawa Yukichi's Western World (Seiyo Jijo), published in 1867, presented the general outlines of Western educational systems; in 1869, there appeared a translation by Uchida Masao of a book on the Dutch Educational System (Oranda Gakusei) and in 1870 a translation by Obata Jinzaburo of various Western School Standards (Seiyo Gakko Kihan).

From the time of its establishment, the Department of Education authorized the collection of many documents relative to Western systems of education. One of the early indications of this practice was the 1871 request from that Department to the Southern College (Nanko) for a translation of French educational laws and the proposal in that same year by the Eastern College (Toko) staff member, Theodor E. Hoffmann (1837-?) on school system.

Although it was only after the proclamation of the Education System Order, i.e., from 1873 to 1876, that the Department of Education published a translation by Kawazu Sukeyuki and Sazawa Taro of a description of the French Educational System (Fukkoku Gakusei), the information in the French original of this book probably would have been widespread by the time of planning the Education System Order due to the high regard many leaders had for the French educational system.

These examples illustrate the wide base of Western knowledge available at the time of the drafting of the Education System Order, and thus it is not surprising that this Order reflected elements from various Western models rather than being drawn from a single example.

In order to obtain a clear idea of the actual conditions existing in prefectural educational facilities up to that time, surveys were initiated in November, 1871. Although it is not clear to what extent the results were utilized in the preparation of the Education System Order, the information collected was significant for the Department's subsequent planning.

Prior to introducing a uniform educational system for the entire country, the Department conducted experiments with curriculum and methodology in several schools under its direct control.