A Fundamental Study on the Selection of Extracurricular Reading in Modern Japanese Social Education

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K00282
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 02010:Japanese literature-related
• Research Institution: Kobe University
• Principal Investigator: Meguro Tsuyoshi 神戸大学, 人間発達環境学研究科, 准教授 (70346229)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 児童文学 / 国語科教育 / 社会教育

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study examined the control of extracurricular reading, which was being addressed by social education, and obtained the following results.
The first result was that extracurricular reading was controlled according to genre. Furthermore, it was found that even the same genre (such as "adventure novel") was sometimes excluded from and sometimes included in extracurricular reading.
The second result was that it was revealed that the control of extracurricular reading was also carried by private organizations (Japan Library Association and Japan Society for Children’s Literature). In addition, the process by which private organizations were incorporated into the Ministry of Education's control of extracurricular reading was revealed.

Free Research Field

文学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

まずは、本研究の学術的意義であるが、課外読み物統制の実態を解明するにはジャンル（「冒険小説」など）に着目する必要があること、文部省などによる上からの統制のみならず、日本図書館協会などの民間団体による下からの統制の検討が必要であることを示唆した点が挙げられる。
次に、本研究の社会的意義であるが、子どもの読書活動推進計画による優良図書の推奨や青少年健全育成条例による有害図書の規制など、現代社会における課外読み物統制について、歴史的に検討し相対化する視座を提供した点が挙げられる。