Abstract
In this paper I examine the debate between Hokkaido Prefectural Government (Do-Cho) officials and the members of the prefectural assembly and try to point out the characteristics of the policy for secondary schools by analyzing the minutes of the 2nd and 3rd assembly when the Do-Cho made known public its financial principle for secondary schools. I gained some findings from each assembly as follows; At the 2nd assembly of 1902, 1 The Do-Cho was going to establish Kamikawa middle school step by step in four years because of the shortage of financial resources. But most members of the assembly didn't agree to this plan. To found the school in the next year they made an effort to find financial resources. 2 The Do-Cho agreed with the assembly to open the school the next year and was going to manage to raise the funds by increasing tuition fees of other middle school and girl's high school. But members of the assembly disagreed again and solved this financial problem by obtaining subscriptions from the Kamikawa residents. From that time subscriptions drew considerable attention as a convenient resource to establish a new secondary school. At the 3rd assembly of 1903, 1 The Do-Cho refused the recommendation from the assembly that suggested the establishment of Hakodate Girl's High School in 1904 and at last made clear its financial plan for secondary schools. This plan stipulated that it was impossible to establish a new prefectural middle school or girl's high school without a subscription. 2 After that the Do-Cho ironically consulted the assembly about the establishment of the prefectural girl's high school in 1905, based on the subscription of Hakodate residents. It was implied that the leadership in the policy-making about secondary schools had shifted from members of the assembly to Do-Cho's officials in response to this request for advice. Through these two assemblies Do-Cho took the initiative and set policy for secondary schools. From that time middle schools and girl's high schools were mainly established by subscription and maintained by expensive tuition fees although vocational schools gained public financial aid.
