Private Schools and Private Universities（私塾・私立大学［私学］）

Background

While Jo Neesima frequently uses the terms “private-tutoring school” and “private school” in his writings, “private-tutoring school” appear particularly frequently around 1878 and “private school” around 1888. The former refers to the time when Neesima, who ran a private school, Doshisha English School, campaigned against the Meiji government’s policy of granting military service deferments only to students of government and public schools and not to private school students. The latter was written during Neesima’s activities to establish his ideal of a private university in opposition to the school system with the Imperial University at the top. In both cases, it is passionately stated that a spirit of freedom (see “The Spirit of Freedom”) is indispensable for the training of independent citizens, that private schools are more appropriate for this than government schools, and that training people in the private sector will enhance the power of the nation.
　It is likely that Neesima’s emphasis on education at private schools and private-tutoring schools was due to his own study experience. Before leaving Hakodate, Neesima studied at the Annaka Clan’s academy at Hitotsubashi, Edo, and at the Warship Training School in Tsukiji, but in between, he studied Dutch studies, mathematics, and navigation using personal contacts and private-tutoring schools. At these private-tutoring schools, handmade education was provided for each student. In addition, all of Neesima’s studies in New England were at private schools. When he accompanied the Iwakura Mission (a mission of the Japanese government to the United States and Europe from 1871 to 1873 led by Tomomi Iwakura) to observe the educational situation in Europe and the United States, he learned that public facilities such as universities, welfare institutions, and hospitals were privately operated. Having witnessed schools established by ambitious individuals for “public” rather than “private” purposes, Neesima must have felt that the education system established by the Meiji government was strange to him. For Neesima, it was self-governing and self-reliant individuals who support the nation and society, and to produce such individuals, he believed that free and self-governing schools independent of the state were necessary (see “Self-governing Independence and Freedom”). Furthermore, the school should be operated independently from the American missionary corps.

Contemporary Significance

Changes in Private School Doshisha

After Neesima’s death, Doshisha University was established in 1912 under the Vocational Training School Ordinance and in 1920 under the University Ordinance. In 1943, during World War II, Doshisha Technical College was established in response to the Cabinet decision on “Emergency Wartime Measures Concerning Education,” and after the war, Doshisha University was transformed into a university under the new School Education Act in 1947. Thus, it can be seen that after the death of Neesima Doshisha has modified its form in response to changes in national policies and systems, rather than having developed through the workings of self-government and self-reliance.
　In recent years, the generalization of the “Standards for Establishment of Universities” in 1991, and the University Inquiry Council’s “The Image of Universities in the 21st Century and Future Reform Policies: Universities, where Individuality Shines in a Competitive Environment (Report)” in 1998 have had an impact on public and private universities nationwide. The report states, “Private universities are expected to further strengthen their educational and research functions and conduct distinctive education and research while responding to the diverse demands of society through independent management by the spirit of their respective foundations.” Ironically, each university has come to uphold the spirit of the university’s founding in response to this.

Role of Private Universities

According to the 2022 Basic School Survey by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the numbers of universities and students (excluding junior colleges) nationwide are 86 national universities with 596,195 students, 101 public universities with 163,103 students, and 620 private universities with 2,171,482 students. The private universities account for about 77% of the total of 807 universities and 74% of the total student population. While most of the national universities have their roots in the imperial universities and government technical colleges that were created to lead the nation-state, private universities have a diverse history and unique school culture and have played a major role in the construction of the modern nation by fostering a diverse range of human resources throughout society. In addition, the tradition of private universities, which have nurtured individuals who are self-reliant and virtuous outside of the system with the imperial universities at its peak, must be utilized in the creation of present and future universities.

(Akira Hayashida)