2023 Volume 46 Issue 3 Pages 39-51
This study identifies the focus of the biographical materials of Helen Keller published in postwar elementary school textbooks for Japanese language arts courses. Biographical materials on Helen Keller were included in 21 Japanese elementary school language arts textbooks published between the immediate postwar period and fiscal year 2022. Nine books were considered for the study, excluding duplicate materials. A comparative analysis of the learning guides and plots in these teaching materials shows that Helen Keller was described as a person whose life was changed by her encounter with Dr. Sullivan and who then strove to overcome hardships, as well as someone who took advantage of her encounters with others and taught people the power of words.
