Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
19.3
Overview of the New Geography Curriculum
The following section provides an overview of the new senior high school geography
curriculum. In recent years, the National Curriculum Standards has been composed
of “objectives,” “contents of learning,” and “how to deal with the contents of
learning.” Objectives represent the fundamental idea of geography, the contents are
in-tended to embody the idea in the objectives, while the section on how to deal with
the contents is what teachers need to consider when instructing the topics.
19.3.1
Objectives
New objectives were progressively developed by revising previously published
materials, which refl ect social change and scholarly trends since the last National
Curriculum Standards. A list of the objectives from the new Geography curriculum
is presented below, with the new revisions underlined.
[Geography A] Objectives: Consider geographical issues in the modern world in
relationship with
regional perspective,
historical background, and daily living
;
develop geographical knowledge on the modern world; cultivate geographical
perspectives and ways of thinking; and foster awareness and characteristics as
Japanese citizens
who live in the global society in independent-minded manners.
[Geography B] Objectives: Consider geographical events of the modern world in
a systematic geographical way and
regions in the modern world
topographically
accounting for historical background
; develop geographical knowledge on the
modern world; cultivate geographical perspectives and ways of thinking; and
foster awareness and qualities as
Japanese citizens
who live in the global society
in independent-minded manners (MEXT
2009
).
While following closely to the previous version, the current revisions are distinc-
tively characterized by their emphasis on historical background as a dimension of
thinking about the world. The term 'historical background' was formerly included
in the contents section, but it has been included in the objectives for the fi rst time
emphasize its signifi cance. Questions have been raised about the lack of historical
considerations in geography, which dealt primarily with the modern world, and
whether students should have a more dynamic perspective to understand evolving
geographic issues across regions. Key terms changed in the course of revision which
are elaborated on below.
The term “Japanese citizens” in the revised curriculum replaced the word
“Japanese” in the former version. This change is parallel to the revision made in the
Fundamentals of Education Law (December 2006), a turning point for the National
Curriculum Standards. The term “daily living” is used only in Geography A to
refl ect the nature of an “A” subject. Common to World History, Japanese History,
and Geography, “B” subjects are assigned four credits and comprehensively covers
