Investigating the Degree of Penetration of the School Motto in Christian Schools in Japan

Abstract

This study examines how the school motto is understood and permeated by the full-time staff of Christian schools in Japan by surveying 159 full-time staff members. It highlights that the school motto has always been a prerequisite for establishing nationwide training sessions to improve the qualifications of administrative staff working in Christian schools. The response rate was 98.1% (N = 156). An analysis of the responses revealed that less than 10% of the respondents gave affirmative answers to all questionnaire items regarding the school motto. The results suggested that the influence of the messages on the organisation depends on the thinking and actions of the person in charge who sends out messages regarding the school motto. Concrete discussions about the organisation’s future with young alumni will improve the quality of the staff who protect and promote the ‘school motto’ and generate constructive discussions for the future reform of school corporation governance.

Keywords

• school motto
• Christian school
• school corporation
• Japan

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