Discussion of Lifesaving and the Notion of Duty of the School Teacher

The Case of Tsugi Takanoʼs Essay and Shōjo No Tomo

Abstract

　The author introduces and analyzes two essays about lifesaving and the notion of duty of a school teacher. The texts in question discuss the case of Ms. Ono, a primary school teacher who bravely saved two drowning pupils during the class, and died in an effort to save the third one. The first text is an essay by Tsugi Takano who claims that the teacher had no other choice of action. The second one is an essay by a school inspector, Kichisaburo Sasaki, in which he suggests that Ms. Onoʼs actions were an example of how teachers were expected to behave. Following the analysis, the author goes on to discuss the pedagogical implications of using this episode as part of teaching materials.