著者

乙須 翼

出版者

長崎国際大学

雑誌

長崎国際大学論叢 = Nagasaki International University review (ISSN:13464094)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.18, pp.1-13, 2018

---

本稿は、18世紀末フィラデルフィアの無償貧困児教育の特徴を、1790年に設立されたアメリカ初の日曜学校団体ファースト・デイ・ソサイエティ(FDS)の教育活動の分析を通して捉えるものである。公教育論者ベンジャミン・ラッシュがその設立に深く関わった FDS は、宗派を問わず全ての貧困児を対象に聖書による読み書き教育を行い、教師による日曜礼拝への参加促進と生徒の行動監視により、貧困児のモラルの改良と安息日の保護、そして社会の安寧を成し遂げようとしていた。しかし、公教育にも近い特異な理念を掲げた FDS は、教育活動を展開する中で、任意団体としての財政基盤の弱さや、貧困児や教師、寄付者や親、FDS の役員といったアクター同士の衝突や思惑のずれによって生じる様々な困難に直面し、初期教育理念を修正していった。FDS が直面した困難は、公教育理念に近い教育活動を18世紀末に実践することがいかに困難であったかを示している。This study aims to describe the features of free education for poor children in late eighteenth-century Philadelphia. It focuses on the education of the first Sunday school society in America,"The Society for the Institution and Support of First-day or Sunday Schools"(the FDS). This voluntary association was established in 1790 and was strongly backed by Benjamin Rush, one of the most famous advocators of public education during the nation's Founding Era. The educational policy of the FDS was unique. The FDS welcomed uneducated, poor children of all religious faiths and denominations and provided free instruction in reading and writing using the Bible. Professional teachers were responsible for, not only providing instruction to children but also inspiring them to attend their own religious Sunday worship either after or before school, and closely monitoring and disciplining the children. Adopting this educational policy, the FDS was aiming to reform the unruly behavior of the poor children and preserve the sanctity of the Sabbath and peace in society. However, the FDS faced a number of difficulties. These were caused by conflicts and interactions among actors such as poor children, teachers, financial contributors, parents, and the FDS members, as well as by financial difficulties brought about by being a voluntary association. The difficulties the FDS faced suggest that an educational policy that was similar to that of public education was not easy to practice in late eighteenth-century Philadelphia.