英字新聞

The Yomiuri Shimbun March 17, 2014
Use of unauthorized textbook at schools in Taketomi should not be overlooked
竹富町の教科書　学校の違法状態は看過できぬ（3月17日付・読売社説）

It is extremely problematic that the law has been ignored for nearly two years at schools, and this situation must be corrected as soon as possible.
　教育現場で法律を無視した状況が２年近くも続いているのは、極めて問題だ。一刻も早く是正されなければならない。

Education minister Hakubun Shimomura has finally issued the so-called demand for corrective action, urging the town board of education in Taketomi, Okinawa Prefecture, to stop using a textbook it has unilaterally adopted in defiance of rules regarding the selection of textbooks to be used in schools.
　下村文部科学相が、教科書採択のルールを守らず、独自採択した教科書を使っている沖縄県の竹富町教育委員会に対し、是正要求に踏み切った。

It was the first time that the demand based on the Local Government Law has been issued to a municipal government. The Taketomi Board of Education should not take it lightly.
　地方自治法に基づく措置で、国が直接、市町村に発動するのは初めてだ。竹富町教委は深刻に受け止めてもらいたい。

In the summer of 2011, the Yaeyama district, including the city of Ishigaki and the towns of Taketomi and Yonaguni, selected a civics textbook published by Ikuhosha Publishing Inc. for use in middle schools. The problem started when the Taketomi Board of Education alone decided to adopt a textbook published by Tokyo Shoseki Co.
　石垣市、竹富町、与那国町から成る八重山地区は２０１１年夏、中学校の公民教科書に育鵬社の教科書を選んだ。ところが、竹富町教委だけが東京書籍の教科書を採択した。それが問題の発端だ。

The law on supplying free textbooks at public primary and middle schools requires a wide-area educational district consisting of more than one municipality to adopt the same textbooks, on the grounds that it makes it easier for teachers to conduct joint studies on educational materials. The unilateral action by the Taketomi board constitutes a clear violation of the law.
　教科書無償措置法は、複数の市町村で構成される広域地区では、教師が教材の共同研究をしやすいといった理由から、同一の教科書の採択を義務づけている。竹富町の独自採択が、無償措置法に違反するのは明白である。

Since April 2012, the Taketomi Board of Education has distributed to students copies of the Tokyo Shoseki textbook paid for by donations from town residents. The then administration of the Democratic Party of Japan showed a lenient attitude toward such textbook purchases. It is undeniable that the misstep by the DPJ administration has served to fuel disarray.
　竹富町教委は町民らの寄付で東京書籍の教科書を購入し、一昨年４月以降、生徒に配布してきた。当時の民主党政権が、自前での教科書購入を容認する姿勢を示したためだ。民主党政権の誤った対応が、混乱に拍車をかけた。

Prevent recurrence

Since a change of government in December 2012, the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has repeatedly urged the Taketomi board to adopt the Ikuhosha textbook in accordance with the law on the provision of free textbooks−which, we believe, is a matter of course for a nation under the rule of law. If the Taketomi board continues to defy correction demands, the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry should consider filing a lawsuit to confirm the illegality of the board’s action.
　政権交代後、安倍政権が竹富町教委に対し、再三、無償措置法に則(のっと)った教科書の採択を求めたのは、法治国家として当然だ。今後、是正要求にも従わないようなら、文科省は違法確認訴訟を起こすことも検討すべきだろう。

The Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education’s responses to the problem cannot escape criticism.
　これまでの沖縄県教委の対応も、非難を免れない。

Last October, Shimomura instructed the prefectural board to demand the Taketomi board rectify the situation. The prefectural board did not comply, saying the Taketomi action has not caused any major problems, among other reasons given.
　下村文科相は昨年１０月、まず沖縄県教委に、竹富町教委への是正要求を指示したが、県教委は「大きな問題は生じていない」などとして、これに応じなかった。

To prevent a recurrence of such a development, the government has submitted a bill to revise the law on the provision of free textbooks to the current Diet session. The key point written in the bill would require any educational district comprising more than one municipality to establish a council to select textbooks at public primary and middle schools, and that educational boards adopt textbooks in accordance with the council’s decision.
　今回のような事態の再発を防ぐため、政府は無償措置法改正案を今国会に提出した。広域地区では教科書を選定する協議会を必ず設け、教委の教科書採択はその協議結果に基づくよう、法案に明記したのがポイントだ。

It is significant to give more clarity to the procedure of adopting textbooks.
　採択の手続きをより明確化することは意味がある。

The revised bill also includes a stipulation that would require boards of education to make efforts to publicize reasons for adopting certain textbooks.
　改正案には、教科書採択の理由の公表を、教委の努力義務とする規定も盛り込まれている。

For example, a good amount of description given to territorial issues was one of the reasons that the Yaeyama district− located close to the Senkaku Islands−selected the Ikuhosha textbook. Heightened tension between Japan and China is the reason for its adoption.
　例えば、尖閣諸島に近い八重山地区が育鵬社版を選択した理由の一つは、領土に関する記述の充実だった。日本と中国との緊張が高まっているからだ。

It is of utmost importance for each board of education to win the acceptance of local residents and students’ parents or guardians by fully explaining the reasons for adopting certain textbooks.
　採択の根拠を、各教委が丁寧に説明し、地域住民や保護者の理解を得ていくことが肝要である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 17, 2014)
（2014年3月17日01時59分 読売新聞）