A Study on the Teacher Consultant Program for the Ryukyus dispatched by the Japanese Ministry of Education in the period of the Government of the Ryukyu Islands

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  • 琉球政府期の沖縄への教育指導委員派遣
  • 琉球政府期の沖縄への教育指導委員派遣 : 文部省による沖縄教育援助
  • リュウキュウ セイフキ ノ オキナワ エ ノ キョウイク シドウ イイン ハケン : モンブショウ ニ ヨル オキナワ キョウイク エンジョ
  • 文部省による沖縄教育援助

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<p> This paper clarifies the transformation process of the Teacher Consultant Program for the Ryukyus dispatched by the Japanese Ministry of Education under the rule of the United States of America, with special attention to the tripartite relationship between Japan, USA and the Ryukyus.</p><p> In June 1958, the Educational Bureau of the Government of the Ryukyu Islands submitted the “Guidelines for Invitation of Teachers from the Mainland” to the Japanese Ministry of Education. In the social and educational environment of Okinawa, the request called for the dispatch of skilled and experienced teachers able to coach inexperienced young teachers while conducting educational practice at schools in Okinawa for two years each.</p><p> Upon receipt of this request, the Ministry of Education immediately started working toward a budget for its realization as educational support for Okinawa. The 1959 Japanese government budget enabled to dispatch of teacher consultants, not skilled teachers, to Okinawa for six months each. Therefore, the budget was limited to adopting only part of the request of the Educational Bureau of the Government of the Ryukyu Islands.</p><p> In contrast, the United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands (USCAR) was critical of the Teacher Consultant Program. In particular, it paid attention to the background and ideology of the teacher consultants dispatched to Okinawa. USCAR demanded the authority to monitor and repatriate them. It also incorporated this mutual agreement into the understanding between Japan, America and the Ryukyus.</p><p> In September 1959, 24 teacher consultants arrived in Okinawa to coach and guide Okinawan teachers at elementary and junior high schools.</p><p> From 1960 onwards, USCAR requested that the Japanese Ministry of Education to screen teacher consultants to ensure that only those opposed to leftist viewpoints would be sent. The Ministry of Education responded to the criticisms and indications from USCAR, prioritized dispatching teacher consultants and systematized the Teacher Consultant Program as an opportunity to spread Japanese education in Okinawa. The program was suspended in fiscal year 1961. However, it resumed from fiscal year 1962 and continued until fiscal year 1982―after Okinawa was returned to the Japanese rule in 1972.</p>

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