2005 Volume 46 Issue 1 Pages 43-52
This paper describes the local conditions in secondary schools for practical work by boys and normal school students in Shizuoka Prefecture during the implementation of "The Syllabus of Students Practical Work in Physics and Chemistry Classes" (1918-1942). The following points are the results of the investigation: 1. The central government policy on practical work for students was conveyed to Shizuoka Prefecture by the governor. 2. The expenditure in Shizuoka Prefecture to expand and enlarge laboratories and prepare instruments for practical work by students was lower than the nationwide average expenditure, but laboratories and instruments for such work were gradually improved by raising school fees and through negotiations between the schools and the authorities of Shizuoka Prefecture. 3. To change teacher-centered practices, the students conducted the experiments by themselves using and following the textbook of practical work for students. 4. In 1932, the directive to attach importance to such practical work was enforced in order to satisfy the requirements of Shizuoka Prefecture. 5. Having important industrial districts, Shizuoka Prefecture exploited this advantage by implementing not only practical work at schools but also factory-visit programs.
