School’s Function of Creating “Bonds”

: “Human Capital Approach” and “Community Embedment Approach”

Abstract

When it comes to the functions of school, people tend to first think of education （forming human capital）, but school has so far played a role of creating ‘bonds’ （social capital） with its local communities and labour markets. Considering that ‘the Matthew Effect’ remains however equal educational opportunities are set and that even in a highly technological society those who are stuck in low wage and low skilled work are still needed, the limits of the social investment strategy whose emphasis is put disproportionately on the labour supply side （this is characteristic of the European SI） are obvious. Therefore, the author argues that ‘high schools with difficulties’ in particular needs ‘community embedment approach,’ which lays much importance on the function of creating ‘bonds.’ This approach tries to create ‘gently sloping’ transition paths during and after graduating school, that is, to make its local labour markets as easy to enter and stay in as possible. From the case study of the collaboration for this approach between Osaka Prefectural Nishinari High School and A Dash Work Creation, however, the limits of school resources are undeniable. Therefore, what is necessary is the institutional reconstruction at each scalar level.