d. Qualifications and Treatment of Elementary School Teachers

According to Article 4 of the Order concerning General Regulations for Schools (Shogakko Tsusoku) promulgated on April 10, 1886, it was stipulated that "generally teachers should receive a license (menkyojo) from the Minister of Education or from the prefectural governor." On the basis of this Order, in June of that year, Regulations for Licensing Elementary School Teachers were issued, which said elementary school teacher licenses would be given to those who had graduated from normal schools or who had passed certification (kentei) with an academic examination for elementary school teachers. These licenses were divided into two types, a general license valid throughout the country for an unlimited period of time issued by the Minister of Education, and a local license valid only in the prefecture under the jurisdiction of the governor who hadissued the license. The latter license was further divided into two types, one good for five years and the other good for an unlimited period of time. The general license was given to graduates of the Higher Normal School and those holders of local licenses who had been employed for more than five years and who were above ordinary in academic competence and teaching ability. Moreover, Regulations for Examining the Conduct of School Teachers, previously issued in July, 1881,were made a part of these Regulations. Article 53 of the 1890 Elementary School Order established the distinction between teachers for general subjects and teachers for a specialized subject as well as between full and associate teachers. On the basis of this Order, in May, 1891, Regulations concerning the Treatment of Elementary School Teacher Licenses according to the Distinction between Full Teachers and Associate Teachers were issued specifying the treatment of those elementary school teacher licenses which were issued prior to the enforcement of the 1890 Elementary School Order. In November, 1891, Regulations concerning the Certification of Elementary School Teachers and Other Matters were issued, which specified details of the certification carried out by the prefectural governors with or without an academic examination, and exceptionally by the Minister of Education without an academic examination. These were revised somewhat by the 1900 Elementary School Order, which established three categories of elementary school teachers, i.e., full teachers for general subjects, full teachers for specialized subjects and associate teachers who would assist full teachers for general subjects. The distinction between general and prefectural licenses was also stipulated in this Order. On July 16, 1913, a revision of the 1900 Elementary School Order was promulgated, which came into force on that day. This revision abolished the distinction between general and prefectural licenses, and Article 40, Paragraph 2 of the Order was changed to read, "Licenses shall be issued by the governors of prefectures and shall be valid for the whole country." Other than this, there were no major changes.