Edukacja geograficzna w Kraju Kwitnącej Wiśni
Geographical education in the Land of the Rising Sun

Author(s): Joanna Angiel
Subject(s): Geography, Regional studies
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego
Keywords: geographical education in Japan;geographical education in Poland;superior aims of education;spiritual development;intellectual development;upbringing;balancing in education;paideia
Summary/Abstract: The article presents educational system in Japan and the position of geographical education in it. The conditions of obtaining teacher’s license are described, as well as the rules, cultural norms and solutions regarding upbringing and educating. The author analyzes geographical contents in textbooks (not only geography textbooks), as well as similarities and differences between education in Poland and Japan. The ideas, values and educational aims in Japan are presented. The differences between understanding education in Japanese and European cultures are highlighted. Nihonjin ron, fursato and kokoro are presented as the essence of Japanese upbringing and educating, and related to geographical education, as they are its core and they determine the importance of teaching geography in Japan. The fundamental differences in aims and directions of education between Poland and Japan are indicated. With relation to this, the author reflects on the crisis in culture and values, as well as the crisis in education. The lack of balance between upbringing and educating in curriculum and school reality is pointed out, as well as very strong cognitive aspect (intellectual development) together with the aspect of physical development and negligence of spiritual development of students. Theauthor recounts paideia – ancient Greek rule of educating individuals, and refers back tothe essence of education in Japan, including kokoro. In the summary, the opinions of Polish philosophers, educators and geographers on the necessity of balancing educationand introducing education turned to values are recalled.

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