The purpose of this essay is to clarify the feature of the Course of Study of Japanese Elementary Social
Studies of 1947. After the World War Ⅱ, GHQ(General Headquarters) reformed Japanese education toward
democratic society, for example, prohibition of Japanese Moral Education, Japanese History and Japanese
Geography on December 1945. In April 1947, The Japanese Ministry of Education Culture proclaimed the
1st Course of Study of Elementary Social Studies.
The aim of Social Studies in the Course of Study of Elementary Social Studies was the children's
problem solving in life and they did not aim to inculcate moral virtues or information of history or
geography. Social Studies was a integrated subject. And it's teaching method was by work unit, which
practised in The Dewey School.
But the Course of Study of Elementary Social Studies of 1947 did not submit the frame of the scope
and sequence of social studies and the elementary teacher was confused with the identity of Social Studies.
Therefore the Ministry of Education had to proclaimed two supplementary documents in 1948 and 1950.
The Supplementary of the Course of Study of Elementary Social Studies of 1947, which proclaimed in
1948, present "expanding environment", and "social functions" as the frame of scope and sequence of social
studies. Learning Guide in Elementary Social Studies which proclaimed in 1950 presented "construct
activities", "problem solving method" as the teaching method. It also restrained the Core Curriculum
Movement. In those days, many teachers interpreted the Course of Study of Elementary Social Studies of
1947 as the core of the core curriculum.
Course of Study of Elementary Social Studies of 1947 was criticised, on the one hand, not being core
curriculum, and other hand, not having contents(academic discipline). In spite of these faults, It has
significance in cultivating democratic dispositions and attitudes of elementary students.