Talk:Secondary education in Japan
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[edit] How much Individualization?
I'm a bit confused about the level of individualization / choice available to Japanese students - especially those in upper secondary school. From the second paragraph of the article, "Students who do not plan to attend university are generally tracked into vocational departments in upper secondary schools." Are the vocational students in the same classrooms as the university-oriented students? In the "Lower Secondary School" section, are the "mandatory club meetings" offered in the same classroom as the regular classes? Do the mandatory clubs continue into upper secondary school? Do they transform into the vocational-technical programs? In the "Upper Secondary School" section, it mentions both a "general program" and a wide variety of "vocational-technical programs." How much opportunity do students have to switch between these programs? (Does assignment happen each trimester, each year, or upon entering secondary school?) Do students in different vocational-technical programs share a classroom with the general-program students for part of the day? Thanks for the clarifications. I've grown up in the U.S., and the system here is quite different.SMesser 00:53, 8 December 2006 (UTC)
We probably need to talk about the new patriotism emphasis legislatated for by the LDP, can anyone help? Andycjp 05:29, 29 January 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Problems With the Japanese School System
As someone who has been teaching English in Japan for about a year and a half, I can attest to some of the "problems" that occur in the Japanese system. In this Wiki article, "school refusal" syndrome and bullying (ijime) are mentioned.
It must be noted that the Japanese school system and the Japanese idea for an "education" are quite different than that of the West. The first biggest difference is that while teachers in America are expected merely to do that, teach, a Japanese teacher's responsibility includes inculcating moral values. A Japanese "sensei" was supposed to take on more of a parental role. In the past, students were often punished severely and even struck by some teachers. According to some teachers and Japanese natives that I have talked to, some teachers would go over board and beat the students. Often times, parents were in accord because "whatever sensei says is best." My landlord recalls a time (he is currently 55 or so) when "if the sensei said the crow was white, then the crow was white." At weddings, often times teachers would speak at the reception. (Being a guest at a reception is pretty big news in Japan).
Another major difference in the Japanese school system is that A STUDENT CANNOT FAIL. Learns or not, passes or fails, he or she is given a grade and he/she proceeds to the next level. There is no "holding back" in Japan. Students do not repeat a grade. They are scrubbed through a system. This is especially true in the Japanese public school system, public education refered to as "gimu kyouiku," which roughly translates as "compulsory education," but could also be translated as "duty education." Rain or shine, it is the student's duty to show up, and it is the teacher's duty to be there and teach. And, like it or not, receiving a diploma at the end of the compulsory education (k through 9 here in Japan), it is the duty of the school to hand a diploma to the student.
No doubt, each culture has its own way of doing things, but Japan is one such country that is always adapting ways of doing things from other cultures, and the education is no exception. The current Japanese education system is based on a mixture of Western influence and Japanese thought. The current middle school uniforms, for example, were modelled after Prussian uniforms. In a recent adaptation, the laws have changed to accomodate human rights; teachers may no longer strike or beat up students. Elementary school rules have been relaxed to accomodate a more casual setting; school uniforms have been reduced to matching hats and/or rucksacks, and other than that they can wear anything. (This varies by school; uniforms continue to be the norm in Middle School).
There's been a recent emphasis on "student's rights," however, and this is, in my opinion, devastating to the Japanese school system. For example, in the latest "student's rights" parlance, "it is a student's right" to be in the classroom. "Gimu kyouiku-yakara," the teachers say. ("It's compulsory education." Or better put, "We have to teach them no-matter what.") This means that if a student is disrupting class, no, he may NOT be sent outside of the classroom. You can tell him or her to be quiet, but you can't make him or her leave. If the student refuses to co-operate, there is nothing any teacher can do. If the student wants to read a book, go to sleep, talk to his or her neighbor, or ignore the teacher, he or she can do this. Because sending him outside of class would be "depriving him of his gimu kyouiku." His mandatory education.
If the student decides he or she wants to get up out of class to talk to a friend in another room, a teacher has to stop class and go after the student. Sometimes this can take time, as older, bigger students fight for their way, as if they were entitled to roam the schools.
Combine this with the fact that students don't have to put much effort in the first place, as, if you have read correctly, a student passes a grade no matter what, and you get a big problem. Basically, Japanese students don't have ANY incentive to study. NONE whatsoever. A student doesn't even have to show up to class, and he or she is guaranteed a diploma at the end of the 9th school year. If a student is picking on another student, there is basically absolutely NOTHING teachers can do other than to stop the current situation and tell the students not to do it again. An unruly student is allowed to come to school, sit in class, and, actually, get up and walk around to talk to friends, all meanwhile destroying school property, but nothing will happen to her, because it is "gimu kyouiku." "Mandatory education."
According to this article the experts can't "pinpoint" the problem, but from my experience, I think it is quite clear, and it's not so hard to understand. Japan's education system is not the same education system it was a decade, or maybe even two decades ago, say many Japanese that I talk to. Currently, the way things stand, there is absolutely no incentive for students to study, and/or to stop bullying each other. After all, students that manage to stumble through are guaranteed a diploma. And, I suppose, this would be alright if the students didn't figure this out. It would be alright if students were the same, submissive model Japanese students of yesterday that did as expected. But times are changing and so are the students.
So to address the question of "school-refusal syndrome?" WHY aren't students showing up to school? Why don't they stop bullying other students? Quite frankly, because they don't HAVE to.
The Japanese school system has been changing, perhaps for the better. Perhaps hitting and beating children weren't such a good idea. Perhaps students should be allowed to develop their individuality. Perhaps the school system shouldn't be so strict on children. These changes have come, but I believe that other changes also have to come. This may make Japanese uncomfortable, but students have to be failed. Students have to repeat grades. Students have to face consequences for their actions. (IE, hitting students and teachers.) And yes, if no effort is being made to learn, and if students put the education of other students in jeopardy, they have to face expulsion. It seems these last changes are something that Japanese are reluctant to make, or perhaps even address. No one wants to "see a child get left behind," to coin a phrase. For now, it seems, Japanese teachers have to "gaman suru." (Bear and grin it.) As long as students don't have to show up, they're not going to. As long as students can get away with bullying, they will.
These are real problems with Japan's education system today. (If it can really be called an "education" system...) Teachers, students and parents face them every day. But I think unless something happens, unless the Japanese quit ignoring the problem, nothing will change.
