The course "Life" is established in the new Courses of Study for elementary schools which the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture revises based on the reco㎜endations of the Curriculum Council.
It has been brought into special education for mentally retarded children already. In either case, although included among the subjects, the course "life" is linked up with moral education．
Japanese school education recently shows a tendency to lay stress on moral education, which emphasizes not only self-independence but also respect and affection for His Majesty the Emperor and the State of Japan.
In view of these circumstances, it seems necessary to reexamine moral education.
In this first report, one of literary materials in a school textbook for moral education is investigated from the point of view that we must aim to support children to acquire substantial morality through understanding stories by themselves.
The second report in the next volume will examine the mutualrelation between cognitive development and moral education in school children, from a social and historical point of view.