The purpose of this study is as follows: First, the initiatives and actual conditions for the introduction of PTA in Japan during the post-war educational reform period will be summarized, and the roles and ideals that CI&E had expected of PTA, and the reasons for the reorganization of parent-guardian organizations, which had already been formed on a school-by-school basis since the introduction of the modern school system, will be analyzed. Second, we will examine the relationship between schools and families behind the discussion and the actual situation that took place mainly between CI&E and the Ministry of Education.
The idea of PTA was introduced under the initiative of GHQ after the war. The parents and guardians organizations, however, had already existed in Japanese communities to support schools. These prewar parent organizations were mainly performed as financial support groups for schools. And CI&E aimed to democratically reform these parent organizations to PTA. The organization of PTA was based on a democratic discussion about educational issues through the voluntary participation of individuals. It also means to create grass-root learning activities through democratic processes. However, the establishment of the PTA, which progressed rapidly in postwar years, did not lead to reform the prewar parent organizations.
To understand the challenges faced by the PTA, it is necessary to understand the process of “Japanization” of the PTA by analyzing how relationships among families, schools, and communities have been formed in the Japanese society. In terms of a voluntary association, which is the fundamental principle of PTA, a critical study to the traditional idea of “the school support association” is needed to be considered.