Japan Society for the Promotion of Science:Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research
Date (from‐to) : 2001 -2003
Author : MIYAMOTO Ken'ichiro; KANAMARU Kouji; NASUKAWA Tomoko; SUGIO Hiroshi; ITO Hiryoyuki; NISHII Nami
We compared daily schedules of elementary schools or kindergartens in the U.S.A., England, Japan, and Brazil after the 19th century, so that we might find common principles of scheduling in the modern school. When educational administrators used the schedule as a means to efficient school management in the late 19th century, the schedule in every country; except Brazil, became rigid and meticulous. The rigid schedule enabled teachers to control pupils' capricious behavior, and it also deprived teachers of their authority to make schedules by themselves. Teachers gave lessons to pupils, as prescribed by the schedule, without regard to pupil's work rhythms in most schools.
In the New Education Movement, which flourished in the early 20th century, flexible time schedules were adopted in 'some progressive schools in the U.S.A., England, and Japan. Flexibility meant that daily schedules consisted of large 'blocks ot time instead of a series of short periods devoted to recitations, and that they were not static but changeable so that children might continue their work uninterruptedly. Progressive teachers made daily schedules flexible to meet changing, various needs of children. In Japan in the Taisho Period, most kindergarteners paid attention to children's work rhythms and abolished time schedules.