The Integration of Adult and Community Education and School Education in the General Educational Program: The Example of 1950s Toyama

Abstract

  This paper examines the Toyama general education program of 1952, the first city and district program executed in Japan. The program integrated adult and community education with school education in a manner that resembled industrial characteristics.

  The first plan was based on setting educational goals and practice based on a scientific analysis of educational contents, methods and institutions.

  The plan aimed to reform educational practice along the lines of post-war regionalism in order to raise young people for industrial growth.

  Furthermore, the plan made much of adult and community educational programs and tried to promote the vocational education of youths.

  This resulted in the establishment of the Education Service Center from which came the Industrial Education Building and a Industrial Senior High School which deepened the combination of labor and education and helped develop the understanding of the program.