著者

広川 由子

出版者

教育史学会

雑誌

日本の教育史学 (ISSN:03868982)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.58, pp.71-83, 2015 (Released:2016-05-02)

参考文献数

13

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This paper clarifies the historical basis of the U.S. Occupation policy on English education for Japan. In previous research, the author found that the Civil Information and Education Section, General Headquarters, Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers in Japan (CI&E, GHQ/SCAP) instructed Japan’s Ministry of Education to analyze the vocabulary used in the textbook, Let’s Learn English, from the perspective of Basic English (BE). BE, designed in 1929 as an auxiliary language, had only 850 words and minimal grammar rules. Its popularization was supported by the Rockefeller Foundation (RF). First, this paper examines the BE project using Rockefeller Archives Center papers and The Rockefeller Foundation Annual Report, as well as the process of U.S. English education policy using CI&E and GHQ/SCAP records, in order to understand the relationship between the RF and U.S. policy. The project of BE was promoted by Selskar M. Gunn and David H. Stevens, both of whom made significant contributions to the Orthological Institute (OI) in London established by Charles Kay Ogden and its program, BE. The development of the BE project was divided into three phases. In the first phase, the RF supported the OI. The RF also supported Okakura Yoshisaburo through OI in London. However, the support ended because of Japan’s isolation due to WWII. In the second phase, the RF focused their support on OI in China so that BE in China grew in comparison with Japan. In the third phase, the RF’s support shifted from OI in China to Harvard University. The persons related to BE, including Stevens, who served as a member of the United State Education Mission to Japan, arrived in Japan after the defeat. They tried to spread BE in Japan through U.S. Occupation education reform. Based on this information, this paper concludes that the historical basis for U.S. English education policy was shaped by the RF’s supporting activities.