The ruling coalition has passed through the Diet three education-related bills regarded by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as most important. But the bills will result only in more state control of education, imposition of the government's own interpretation of the nation's history and culture on students, and regimentation of teachers leading to deprivation of their autonomy and creativity.
Meddling by a government far removed from the actual education scene will not only be useless in solving real problems but also carry the danger of creating an undemocratic system.
The revised school education law lists "public spirit" and an "attitude of loving the nation" as important education goals. Students also must be led to a "correct understanding" of the nation's history. The government will easily instill its own ideology related to the nation's history and culture in the minds of students. This will hamper children's developing critical minds and unique ways of seeing things.
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