The purpose of this text is to clarify the current state and the problems of the education that relates
to the law in the elementary school social studies of our country, and to show the reform measures.
First of all, I start from examining the course of study and textbooks, regarding the current situation
and problems of education related to the law in the elementary school social studies of our country.
The content of the education is the type of class to understand the ideology of the constitution
that achieves democracy. This type of class is considered as “Law-as-Object Type”. The class is
developed under the method of education that is to accelerate the understandings of the ideology of
the constitution from concrete facts (policies/systems) that reflect it. This type of class is considered as
“Understanding Focus Type”.
The two types of class, “Law-as-Object type” and “Understanding Focus Type” organize the study of
the law in the elementary school social studies. Although it is one of the characteristics, it is a problem
at the same time.
Law would be better themes in social studies, if we could raise the legal natures among children who
can, not only understand the ideology of the constitution and legal systems, but also solve the problems
using them, proactively investigate into legal problems in the region, and form laws by themselves.
It is required to overcome the problems of “Knowledge-Acquiring Focus Type” in the studies of the
constitution, and to study the constitution and the law aiming at rearing the citizens who proactively
assume the responsibility of democratic society, and form it.
This text indicated the necessity to shift the social studies class from “Law-as-Object Type” to “Lawas-
Means Type”, from “Understanding Focus Type” to “Problem-solving Type”, and “Creative Type” in
order to improve the education related to the law in the elementary school social studies.