Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
The subject “Study of the World's Nation Groups,” which was implemented in
the 1963-1964 school year as the Study of Other Countries, had content that cor-
responded to “Nations and Nation Groups” of Geography B. Under the condition
that Study of the World's Nation Groups would “be an experiment positioned as
much as possible within the regular curriculum centered around Social Studies
Geography B,” (Hiroshima University Attached Senior High School Research
Section
1966
, p. 3), classes for Geography B were developed. Senior high school
Geography B is based on regional geography offered in junior high school, a “system-
atic learning” course. As Nations and Nation Groups appeared as a new important
topic in the revised National Curriculum Standards (Hiroshima University Attached
Senior High School Research Section
1966
), the topic of nations was introduced in the
Geography B curriculum at this school (Takata
2005
).
In 1956, in addition to the six existing ASP schools, 13 schools were designated
as research schools. At these institutions, studies were focused on topics that
“spotlighted as its goal education for the sake of international understanding and
international cooperation, centered on Social Studies and based on the National
Curriculum Standards, while giving due consideration to the character of the area
where the school is located and, moreover, based on the local and age characteristics
of the students” (Nagai
1985
, p. 71).
From the beginning, the educational experiment of the Associated Schools was
closely tied to the National Curriculum Standards, borrowing from it the framework
and course outlines. In particular, the policy was to stress its role within Social
Studies. Afterwards, the National Curriculum Standards were the framework for the
learning content in which the Associated Schools were involved.
In 1961, there were 28 UNESCO Associated Schools in Japan: 17 junior high
schools, 9 senior high schools, and 2 universities. Most newly participating Associated
Schools emphasized education in practice, and carried out coursework based on either
or both the National Curriculum Standards or extracurricular activities (Nagai
1985
).
The Associated Schools were a pioneering attempt to put international education
into practice. Module content refl ected both the study topics designated by UNESCO
and coursework designated under the National Curriculum Standards. In particular,
Social Studies played a major role in the educational experiments, because its
contents overlapped with the study topics proposed by UNESCO.
10.4.4
Development Towards Geography in the Second
Phase of UNESCO Education
In the revised National Curriculum Standards, learning content related to ESD is
designated as coursework. The education for international understanding and
international cooperation that the Associated Schools undertook in the immediate
postwar era was conducted within subject coursework in accord with the National
Curriculum Standards. Since there are many parallels between National Curriculum
Standards with the UNESCO education, the latter being an important education
program, can be included in schools via the national standards.
