This study reveals the series of discussions over student participation in the period of university reform in Japan after World WarⅡ. It especially focuses on the confrontation in the period from October, 1948 to October, 1950 and clarifies the details of the counter proposals to the draft outline of the University Law (Daigaku-ho Shian Yoko) made by the Japan Teachers' Union (Nikkyoso) and the National Federation of Students' Self-government Associations (Zengakuren).
Next, it examines many of the primary historical materials owned by the National Institute for Educational Policy Research (NIER) and presents specific opinions on student participation both from supporters and opponents and sheds light on the process which established the student participation clause in a sequence of deliberations of the Drafting Council of the Bill of National University Administration (Kokuritsu Daigaku Kanri Hoan Kiso Kyogikai).
In the conclusion, three points are made: 1) Before enactment of the first draft of the bill of National University Administration, more idealistic student participation proposal had been discussed with concrete articles; 2)seemingly progressive student participation clause is a step backwards compared with earlier deliberation. That is, it is misunderstanding that the existing of the clause is an evidence of positive support for student participation; 3) the word “administration” (kanri) caused the committee to regard the bill as one that covered only administrative issues and the students, target of education, were expelled from the area.