2016 Volume 54 Issue 2 Pages 6-17
This study aims to analyze Kurahashi Souzou’s thoughts on the unification of kindergarten and nursery school systems through his theory of child protection and his contribution to the organization of preschool systems. He proposed that children of 3.4 years and over should get equal access to early childhood education under the control of the Ministry of Education, and children under 3 years old should get care at the day nursery under the control of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. He thought: (1) Every child should have equal access to early childhood education as a matter of children’s dignity, and therefore the content of child care and education in kindergarten and nursery school should be standardized. (2) Early childhood facilities and systems should be divided in two from the perspective of the developmental stage. (3) Kindergarten should also provide a comprehensive child protection service.
