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DPJ must coordinate views on education

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The Diet is to take up for discussion amendment of the Fundamental Law of Eduction for the first time since the law was established in 1947.

To nurture people who will lead this country in the future, what should the vision and purpose of the nation's education be? Lawmakers should discuss the revision bill earnestly.

The bill calls for fostering patriotism with such expressions as "public spirit and respect for tradition" and "an attitude that respects the nation and hometown," which are not included in the current basic education law.

Cabinets under former Prime Ministers Ichiro Hatoyama, Hayato Ikeda and Yasuhiro Nakasone sought to revise the law. But whenever they tried to bring up the topic for discussion, opposition lawmakers and the Japan Teachers' Union resisted, saying revising the law would be tantamount to reviving militaristic eduction.

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Govt must compile policies

Looking back at Japan's history as a pacifist country since the end of World War II, it no longer makes sense to drag up the specter of prewar Japan.

Schools are facing a number of problems, such as bullying, students resorting to violence, and truancy. Students are committing crimes at an increasingly young age. The number of self-centered children is increasing. Young people's views about work are becoming seriously skewed, symbolized by the increasing number of young NEETs (those not in education, employment or training).

The bill calls for establishing a new article to define the role of education at home. Reflecting that postwar education placed little importance on the role of the family, the article stipulates that parents have the primary responsibility for the education of their children.

The bill also obligates the government to formulate basic plans to promote education that should set out policy goals.

We wonder what kind of policies the government will come up with to solve the problems the nation faces with its schooling. The public has a great interest in such policies.

In parallel with Diet deliberations, the government should speedily compile policies that meet the needs of the people.

The ruling camp of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito hopes to set up a special committee at the House of Representatives as a forum to discuss the bill.

But the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan opposes the idea of establishing such a committee.

A special committee can hold discussions on an almost daily basis. The DPJ's opposition suggests the party is not ready to tackle revision of the basic education law.

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DPJ shouldn't duck issue

A year ago, the DPJ compiled a report on revision of the basic law. The report included both positive and negative views on the law's revision. The positive view reads: "How many more years will it take until Japan becomes a country in which use of the word 'patriotism' is normal?" The negative view reads: "[The revision] will lead to totalitarian education."

But after the compilation of the report, the party failed to discuss revising the law.

The DPJ says it will soon compile a counterproposal for revising the law. But it will be a tough task to forge a consensus from among the divergent opinions in the party.

Claiming that the Fundamental Law of Education is as important as the Constitution, DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama has insisted that deliberations on revision of the basic education law should be held in tandem with discussions on amending the Constitution.

The DPJ secretary general's comment represents an attempt to postpone revision of the basic education law. He probably is concerned that Diet deliberations will highlight differences of opinion within his party.

Because it is a very important issue, the DPJ must strive to narrow down opinions within the party to a single view. That is an attitude required for a political party that aims to take power.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/editorial/20060429TDY04005.htm

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