A Study of the Expertise and Skills Required for 'Art and Handicraft' in Elementary Schools : The Gap Between the National Elementary School Teacher Recruitment Examinations, Education-related Laws, the Course of Study, and Textbooks

Abstract

In this paper, we examined the 'art and handicraft' questions in the national elementary school teacher recruitment examinations to see whether or not the content of the examinations were appropriate to judge applicants' ability to improve students' "academic ability" as required at elementary school level. First, we clarified how "academic ability" and "evaluation" were stipulated in the education-related laws. Then, we analyzed the examination questions in the light of the Course of Study, which is based on the education-related laws, and textbooks issued in accordance with the curriculum. As a result, we found that the examinations did not appropriately follow the Course of Study and the textbooks stipulated by the education-related laws, which led us to discuss what expertise and skill should be emphasized in relation to 'Art and Handicraft' classes in elementary schools. Finally, we proposed that university education needs to be able to meet these needs.