If you were educated in Japan

[thatsme]

Say that your look is not oriental as we human invented the word to describe someone from the orient, in this case a person called "Japanese" not sarcasm intended.
Anyway if you were educated in Japan you probably would think and behave like most poeple that were educated in Japan from the youngest age.

The same obvously would be same the other way around.

So my question is, what would you like to change if there is anything to change, in the Japanese educational system?

The same can be for other educational system.

[Homerduff]

The rediculous system of entrance exams for sure. I've been told that no matter what course you want to take at one of the big universities in Japan, let's say journalism, you will still be tested at math and science.

[nice gaijin]

I would change the focus from entrance into school, to progression through the levels and ultimately graduation. Getting into a school is just the beginning of the journey, and it seems that the current system is set up to let students coast through their education once they pass the extremely stressful entrance exams. There's a lot more I could say on post-secondary education, but I'm not sure if this thread was meant to be about primary and secondary education

[thatsme]

Thanks,
it was meant for the general education system, so yeah.

[yumeitsumo]

You have no idea how badly i want to attend school in Japan. I wonder if it would be possible for me to go to school when I go to japan. I wonder if I could start in first grade... I wonder. I really wish I was Japanese because I adore the educational system they have. <3

[nice gaijin]

Originally Posted by yumeitsumo

I wonder. I really wish I was Japanese because I adore the educational system they have. <3

What is there to adore? The uniforms? Club activities that swallow up all of your free time?

[thatsme]

to me does sound sarcastic the yumeitsumo post, but hey everyone have their own opinion.

[Dutch Baka]

Teacher in the class room instead of the teachers room (I think Mike Cash have already said this somewhere as well).

Increase English studying hours, and combine it with world culture. Not sure about other Area's, but in Kobe every elementary student only gets 7 English classes a year. Make that 20 lessons, incl. world cultures and customs.

Get ride of the Juku's, but I guess fathers need to be able to have more time with their kids first.

[Kyoto Returnee]

Originally Posted by Dutch Baka

Get ride of the Juku's, but I guess fathers need to be able to have more time with their kids first.

PERFECT!!

Those Jukus are a bloody nightmare!

I used to teach at Kyoshin Juku and some kids could not keep their eyes open late into the evening.

Poor little souls..

[yumeitsumo]

Originally Posted by nice gaijin

What is there to adore? The uniforms? Club activities that swallow up all of your free time?

Yes. And more. But I'll tell you more about that later.

[caster51]

In my experience, I hated entrance exam at that time . even today I dream it as nightmare.
however, I learnt a lot of good things from that.
hard time would always become a good memory, if you climbed up

[Kyoto Returnee]

Originally Posted by caster51

In my experience, I hated entrance exam at that time . even today I dream it as nightmare.

It definitely shows.... On many students faces in Japan.

[misa.j]

There should be more freedom for the public school teachers to choose their own materials other than textbooks authorized by the Ministry of Education; those textbooks are usually unstimulating, do luck of imagination, and in some case, untruthful. I think it helps more for "outside the box thinking" if you are exposed to somthing real.

Abolishing entrance exams, that are now to some extent required to enter those so-called prestigious elementary schools, would take off a lot of pressure from children and their parents.

[magevampjoe]

I wish they would change the english syllabus (eg, teach stuff necessary to life rather than for exams).

A seperate note, I wish schools in the UK would practice osouji (dunno if I got the right word, but I'm referring to cleaning of the school)
It is useful in life and also creates work ethic.

[oldarney]

Originally Posted by magevampjoe

I wish they would change the english syllabus (eg, teach stuff necessary to life rather than for exams).

A separate note, I wish schools in the UK would practice osouji (dunno if I got the right word, but I'm referring to cleaning of the school)
It is useful in life and also creates work ethic.

you would really want kids to work at cleaning in the schools? sounds horrifiying. it seems like you went through 2 years of grave digging for this post.

i personally would avoid such situations at all cost.

[FrustratedDave]

Originally Posted by yumeitsumo

You have no idea how badly i want to attend school in Japan. I wonder if it would be possible for me to go to school when I go to japan. I wonder if I could start in first grade... I wonder. I really wish I was Japanese because I adore the educational system they have. <3

Is this a case of the grass is greener on the other side? How do you actually know what their system is like?

Anyway, I agree with the progressive education system as Nice Jaijin stated.

[Dutch Baka]

I also like the fact that they have to clean for about 15 minutes after their lunch. Nothing wrong with that, and they will learn how to clean a bit (even though a lot of kids just do a quick swap and then talk and wait until the bell rings to pick up their basket balls again).

I also like the idea Misa gave. More freedom to the teachers instead of the government given textbooks.

Other thing is to give every ES their own P.E. teacher. There is too much stress on the HRT teachers let them have some rest as well.

I think this is a very good thread, with not enough good points. I really hope that some of the guys/girls that have been in Japan for a while can give their opinion out here; Mike Cash, DoctorP, and Mars Man for example

[nice gaijin]

I'm still waiting for yumeitsumo to explain what it is about Japan's education system that has her so weak in the knees.

I would also really like to hear from Mars Man and Mike, as they have special experience in this area including putting their own kids through school. I'm sure there's a lot they'd have to say on this subject.

[hanachan]

Originally Posted by oldarney

you would really want kids to work at cleaning in the schools? sounds horrifiying. it seems like you went through 2 years of grave digging for this post.

i personally would avoid such situations at all cost.

Cleaning in the schools is an educational practice, we Japanese think.
Children are taught that they should thank everything they use for studying.
I think it's a virtue that a person must learn.

[undrentide]

Originally Posted by oldarney

you would really want kids to work at cleaning in the schools? sounds horrifiying. it seems like you went through 2 years of grave digging for this post.

i personally would avoid such situations at all cost.

I agree with Dutch Baka and hanachan here.
It is very important for children to learn how to take care of the things they use daily.

[oldarney]

Originally Posted by undrentide

I agree with Dutch Baka and hanachan here.
It is very important for children to learn how to take care of the things they use daily.

I'm down with taking good care of school property. however the first thing that crossed my mind is boys mimicking to do any work while girls mop the floors. kids brooms, obviously parents in japan aren't as protective of they'r children as they are in US. many parents here would go nuts if they knew they'r children where forced to mop and sweep.

[Dutch Baka]

Lol, it's not like they are sweating while they are cleaning. It's very easy stuff.

I found this one: http://www.sover.net/~johnd/cleaning.html I think kids actually enjoy doing it. (Parents should already complain enough in here, don't worry about that lol)

[undrentide]

Originally Posted by oldarney

I'm down with taking good care of school property. however the first thing that crossed my mind is boys mimicking to do any work while girls mop the floors. kids brooms, obviously parents in japan aren't as protective of they'r children as they are in US. many parents here would go nuts if they knew they'r children where forced to mop and sweep.

Like Dutch Baka said, it isn't such a heavy labour.
It's just moving the desks and chairs aside, and clearn up the floor with brooms and dusters, and put the desks and chairs back to their position. As it s done everyday, there are not much to clean up anyway.
And I did enjoy it when I was a kid. At elementary school we had "cleaning songs" played during "cleaning time", which was only 10-15 minuts.

It sounds as if in your country cleaning is something to be looked down as heavy and dirty jobs that children should not do? I don't think let someone else to look after what one used/littered is the best idea (especially for children), but it might be only me...

[nice gaijin]

Originally Posted by oldarney

... obviously parents in japan aren't as protective of they'r children as they are in US. many parents here would go nuts if they knew they'r children where forced to mop and sweep.

Obviously? What parent here don't want their children to learn how to clean their own mess? As others have said, it's not hard labor; the kids gain an important habit and learn how to respect their space, and don't mind taking the responsibility. It's not about forced labor, they're just tidying up after themselves.