「県文化運動の機関」としての『沖縄教育』 : 1923年から1933年までの誌面分析

Abstract

This study examines Okinawa Education(1906-1944), journal published by the teachers' association in Okinawa and one of the most important historical materials for the study on Okinawa in the modern era. After a careful analysis of all the articles, this paper tries to describe how Okinawan teachers' recognition of their own language and history changed, when they accepted new educational theories in the period of Taisho Democracy. Several studies have been made on Okinawa Education, in which the journal's nature was described as a medium of Kouminka(assimilation). Many authors, however, discussed Okinawan language and history. Some of them were famous scholars in the field of Okinawan Study, which emphasized the importance of learning Okinawan history and preserving Okinawan language. And new educational theories and movements made Okinawan teachers value the language and respect the historical knowledge on Okinawa. Therefore it can be said that the nature of Okinawa Education in the period from 1923 to 1933 is the medium on the cultural movement in the prefecture, and that the journal was considered a general magazine on Okinawan culture as well as an educational one. This conclusion challenges the generally accepted notion on modern Okinawan history.