전시체제하 일본의 국민학교 체련과(體錬科) 교육 ― 그 실제와 한계 ―

Abstract

On entering into the (Second) Sino-Japanese War in 1937, Japanese society turned into the war footing. The Japanese Army, long been prepared for the total war, has been concerned about physical strength of young conscripts thereby the issues of reduced physical strength of the public emerged from the physical examination for conscription. Japanese Army pointed out the Japanese education as one of the causes of reduced physical strength of the public and so does the Ministry of Education that took the issue as one of major problems to be resolved. Engaged the war, the educational system was revised by which the elementary education faced the sweeping change of an introduction of elementary school cultivating Japanese nationals in 1941. Children in the elementary school were out of subjects to be mobilized for the war however they were regarded and treated as young nationals as well as valuable human resources for the future. Thus, the measures to resolve issues associated with reduced physical strength were reflected in the course of education in elementary school, and in this context, the physical training education was intensified. The time assigned to the lessons for the subject of physical training in a week, which corresponds to the course of physical education in the elementary school, had increased almost twice with changes in contents and objectives of the education. Regarding the objectives of the lessons of the subject of physical training, the physical training, as well as spiritual exercising, intended for the intensification of national power and defense strength. That is, the subject of physical training mediated the connection between mind and body of students, by which the physical body of individuals was transformed into the physical body of nation. In the course of lessons, the subject of military arts was selected as one of regular courses thereby the ‘Spirit of Japan’ emerged and consequently resulted in the systematic rearrangement in contents of physical training. However, contrary to the objectives of education of national significance presented by the Ministry of Education, the ways of receiving educational courses in the actual education field exhibited limitations. The extensively enlarged objectives and complexity of contents in lessons for the education were regarded by teachers as estranging them from actual reality. Besides, the situation, lacking resources and foods, also limited the accomplishment of educational objectives of the enhancement physical strength through physical training and education. Consequently, the solution, for the issue of reduced physical strength which exerted the intensification of education of physical training in the background, was unavailable through employment of physical training and education.