必修化以前にみる小学校英語教育の波及

―地方分権化時代の自治体における教育内容・条件整備―

抄録

This research aims to quantitatively clarify the mechanism of nationwide diffusion of English language education (ELE) in Japanese elementary schools before compulsorization in 2008. This will refine conventional discussions on processes expanding ELE for elementally level in Japan as well as another school subjects or for school levels hopefully. The present study analyzed the regional characteristics and policy diffusion that contributed to the revision of the Course of Study in Japan from the viewpoints of public policy and public administration. As the primary research material, the author used questionnaire surveys concerning variables related to elementary ELE and filled nationwide by local governments in 2017. In addition, statistical data representing those municipal governments’ characteristics provided by the national government was collected and used as dependent variables. The results show that responding to the internal needs of local governments was an important factor for municipalities who started elementary ELE at an early stage while those that started later needed guidance from the higher level government such as national and prefectural government. Based on this research, supporting educational resources for local governments beginning ELE later should be considered.