Research on policy-making systems and ability of local governances concerning high school reform in Japan

1.我对北海道四所高中合并案之一的Nayoro案进行了访谈研究，采访对象包括Nayoro高中、Shimokawa高中和Huuren高中的三名校长、Shimokawa高中的前校长、Nayorokoryo高中和Bifuka高中的两名校长以及北海道高中教师工会Nayoro分部的一些领导。我认识到，合并计划是由纳约罗地区的地方会议决定的，该会议由市政当局、学校董事会、教育工作者、教师工会、居民和家庭教师协会组成。会议独立于北海道县教育委员会，这是有特色的。我对岐阜县知事办公室、教育厅及其延伸办公室、一所高中、一些学校董事会和岐阜县教师工会进行了关于岐阜县教育改革的访谈研究。州长对下放权力和实施岐阜市教育改革持积极态度。在岐阜，人们的参与度非常高，因为有一些会议和机会让他们参加。但是教育改革是由州长而不是州教育委员会领导的，是由州长、督学和教育委员会主席组成的会议制度。这种制度被称为“民主控制”，它不同于“大众控制”，即外行控制。教育积极度较高的县的教育管理是自上而下的。而在教育不那么积极的地区则是自下而上的类型。在后者方面，市政当局的声音相对较大，这有助于北海道教育厅反映居民的意愿。县教育委员会与地方校董会的关系是划分县内教育行政类型的关键。这是今后教育改革的重要观点之一。

1.I made interview researches about Nayoro case which was one of four resent consolidations of high schools in Hokkaido prefecture to three superintendents of Nayoro SD, Shimokawa SD and Huuren SD, the former superintendent of Shimokawa SD, two principals of Nayorokoryo HS and Bifuka HS and some leaders of Nayoro branch of Hokkaido HS Teachers Union. I recognized that the plan of consolidation was decided by the local conference in Nayoro Area which was made of municipalities, school boards, educdators, teachers union, residents and PTA. The conference was independent from Hokkaido prefectural board of education, this is characteristic.2.I made interview research about education reform in Gifu prefecture to Governor's Office, Department of Education, its extension office, a high school, some school boards and Gifu Teachers Union. The governor is very positive to decentralization of authority and implementing Gifu Education Reform. In Gifu, people involvement is remarkable, as there are some conferences and chance for them to take part in. But the education reform is led by governor, not prefecture board of education, by a mean of system of conference composed of the governor, the superintendent and the chairman of board of education. This system is called "democratic control", which is different from "popular control" that is layman control.3.The educational administration in the prefecture whose educational is very positive is top-down type. and that in the prefecture whose educational is not so positive is bottom-up type. In latter, the voices of municipalities are comparatively bigger and it helps Hokkaido prefectural board of education reflect residents' intention. The relationship between prefectural board of education and school boards in local areas is the key which divides types of educational administration within prefectures. This is one of the important viewpoints for education reform in future.