Abstract
This paper aims to show how the changes in thinking and action of children's home workers helped effect a change in the government policy of promoting employment over advancement to high school education among junior high school graduates of children's homes during the time of high economic growth. Records from the period show that junior high school graduates of children's homes were encouraged to work rather than advance to high school. The government was also concerned with the promotion of employment of junior high school graduates because of labor supply shortages. However, children's home workers realized that incomes were low and young people were being excluded from further education. The introduction of the Special Education Allowance for high schools also encouraged policy change after it was recognized that the gap had widened between the number of junior high school graduates and the rate of advancement to high school. Society is now more aware of the issue due to the difference in rates of advancement to high school among students from children's homes compared to the national average. The social action of children's home workers has also affected government policy. Finally, even with its limitations, the Special Education Allowance has caused a change in the choices made by junior high school graduates.
