Changes

The government planned in [[1872]] that, going forward, it would seek to establish eight universities, 256 secondary schools, and 53,760 elementary schools. As of [[1902]], there were still only two universities, 222 secondary schools, and 27,076 elementary schools in the country.

The government planned in [[1872]] that, going forward, it would seek to establish eight universities, 256 secondary schools, and 53,760 elementary schools. As of [[1902]], there were still only two universities, 222 secondary schools, and 27,076 elementary schools in the country.

Elementary education was initially deemed mandatory for four years. However, elementary schools were locally funded, and many suffered not only from lack of funds, but also shortage of teachers, and much resistance from families who refused to send their children to school (many such families may have felt they needed the extra hands to help with work at home, on the farm, or in the shop). This eventually shifted and changed, however. As early as [[1868]], roughly 10% of school-age girls were already attending school. The first Japanese Normal School (teacher-training universities) was established in [[Tokyo]] in 1872, and by [[1900]], most children of school-age, both boys and girls, were attending school; the four-year mandate was reintroduced, and successfully expanded to six years in [[1907]].  

Elementary education was initially (as of 1872) deemed mandatory for four years. However, elementary schools were locally funded, and many suffered not only from lack of funds, but also shortage of teachers, and much resistance from families who refused to send their children to school (many such families may have felt they needed the extra hands to help with work at home, on the farm, or in the shop). This eventually shifted and changed, however. As early as [[1868]], roughly 10% of school-age girls were already attending school. The first Japanese Normal School (teacher-training universities) was established in [[Tokyo]] in 1872, and by [[1900]], most children of school-age, both boys and girls, were attending school; the four-year mandate was reintroduced, and successfully expanded to six years in [[1907]].  

The government established the [[Ministry of Education]] in [[1871]], on the French model of a centrally administered education system and nationwide curriculum. Much of the Ministry's first budget, in [[1873]], was dedicated to bringing foreign teachers to Japan, and one-eighth of the entire budget was devoted to funding Japanese students to travel abroad; two hundred and fifty did so that year. By the 1880s, however, with Japan's own education system (including universities on the Western model) more firmly established, the number of students traveling abroad each year diminished, to around 50-80 students per year.

The government established the [[Ministry of Education]] in [[1871]], on the French model of a centrally administered education system and nationwide curriculum. Much of the Ministry's first budget, in [[1873]], was dedicated to bringing foreign teachers to Japan, and one-eighth of the entire budget was devoted to funding Japanese students to travel abroad; two hundred and fifty did so that year. By the 1880s, however, with Japan's own education system (including universities on the Western model) more firmly established, the number of students traveling abroad each year diminished, to around 50-80 students per year.