EDUCATION IN JAPAN.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4534, 2 March 1923, Page 2

EDUCATION IN JAPAN.

VERY FEW ILLITERATES. ENGLISH COMPULSORY. Most of the popular prejudice against the Japanese, their character and aims, is quite unfounded, says Mr Eric S. Bell, of Christchurch, who has returned to New Zealand on holiday after a year spent in Japan as a teacher of English in the Seijo middle school, Tpkio. Mr Bell, who intends to return to his position in Japan a few months hence, likes the country and its people so well that he may make his home there. Speaking of education, Mr Bell said Europeans had no idea of the rate at which it was developing in Japan, Illiterates now composed only 2 per cent, of the ppulation. There were 7,000,000 scholars in the elementary schools. Before long Japan would contain fewer uneducated people than any other country in the world. English was a compulsory subject, and was taught thoroughly by foreign teachers. Conversation lessons were regarded as of the greatest importance. English books were to be found everywhere. In fact, books on all subjects could be obtained in greater variety than in New Zealand.