Childcare Practice for School-Aged Children in the Prewar Period: Focusing on the Activities of Futaba Day Nursery

Abstract

  This paper examines childcare practice for school-aged children organized in the prewar period, focusing on the activities of Futaba Day Nursery established in 1900 as a socialwelfare project for the poor in the city of Tokyo. The purpose of this study is to clarify the history of the childcare service for school children, in the historical contexts of both school and home.

  In modern Japan, there was a problem of poor children not entering school. Futaba Day Nursery began by supporting its graduating children in entering school after its establishment in 1900. In 1919, Futaba Day Nursery started an educational service and functioned as an elementary school for the poor. Following this educational service, Futaba day nursery expanded its after school service. In 1922, Futaba Day Nursery founded a home for single mothers and children as a new social welfare project for the poor, and the childcare services after school were part of assistance provided for mothers and children. In Futaba Day Nursery, girls and women were being trained to do housework and needlework; that is, home education.

  In other words, childcare practice for school-aged children in Futaba Day Nursery performed the original roles of school education and home education from a social welfare standpoint.