A Century of Teacher-Education

Teacher Education in Japan: An Historical and Comparative Perspective

“…Particularly attractive to the Japanese leadership during this period of conservative reaction, was the Herbartian view that the main purpose of schooling was to develop moral understanding and conduct (Krug, 1964). Mirroring changes that were taking place in American pedagogy, prospective teachers began studying about the doctrine of interest, the culture epoch theory, and the nature of apperception, which were the foundation components of Herbartian pedagogy (Knight, 1945). Methodologically, the model of the Pestalozzian object lesson was supplanted by the Herbartian paradigm of the five formal steps of teaching.…”

“…Taisho Era Through World War II: 1912-1945 During the Taisho era (1912)(1913)(1914)(1915)(1916)(1917)(1918)(1919)(1920)(1921)(1922)(1923)(1924)(1925)(1926) there was a reassessment of Meiji Westernization policies resulting in a realignment of Western pedagogical ideas to achieve a better fit with the changes taking place in Japanese society. The rise of nationalism was the most significant factor affecting the educational system during this period.…”

“…The first public normal school was founded in Lexington, Massachusetts in 1839 (Borrowman, 1965 (Knight, 1945 (Yanaga, 1966). 5 This was also true in the United States.…”