Political Battle over Education
In addition to facing problems of implementation, the government faced many problems from within. Conservatives such as Motoda Eifu believed that the trend toward more Western-style education, particularly in ethics, were responsible for the degradation of the family and traditional Japanese values, and advocated a return to education in Chinese classics. Inoue Kowashi agreed, but saw that many of the problems Motoda highlighted in the system itself were less than real. Inoue criticized the pace of the change more than anything, claiming that social change was occurring too rapidly, with too much liberty being bestowed on the people too quickly, resulting in a degradation of traditional values. However, Inoue was a supporter of the education system, claiming that it increased national welfare and that it would be tragic to return to the old, feudalistic system.[1] Motoda Nagazene, another conservative, disagreed, claiming that the new education system would result in the Japanese becoming bling copies of Westerners and that there was no place for an education system that served the individual. This political battle would occur throughout the period of revolt and adjustment that the Meiji education system experienced, with many siding with conservatives such as Motoda as the 1880s approached.[2]
[1] Pittau, Poltical Thought, 167.
[2] McClain, Japan, 261.
[1] Pittau, Poltical Thought, 167.
[2] McClain, Japan, 261.