Inagi City Daissan Junior High School

Finally, we were off to our first school visit. It began with a welcome speech from the principal. During the speech, we learned that three years ago when she arrived, the school had a problem of violence. Through starting a 10 minute SSR (sustained silent reading) at the beginning of each a day and including community volunteers to come to greet the students and help out, the problem has now improved. She also told us that the building itself had also been improved through painting it and planting flowers.

My image of Japanese schools changed once I began to walk around the building and observe the students. I had imagined schools where students were silent only spoke when spoken to and never made a sound or got out of line. This was not exactly the case. Although students were well behaved during lessons they were very noisy, running around and playing rough, etc during their breaks (10 min. btw classes). Unlike American schools, students were unsupervised between classes and often very loud and rowdy. I went to observe a music class and the door was locked. A minute later a student arrived with the key and let the students in. The boys went running in and immediately began to bang on the piano, give each other piggyback rides and wrestle on the floor. Even though I was in the room they paid me no mind as I took some photos. About 10 minutes later the teacher arrived and entered into the chaos. She didn’t say a word; give a “look” or anything other than go by the piano and stand. With in a minute the students all got up and walked over to their spots and stood silently. The student leader then led them in the greeting, bowed to the teacher and they then sat down and were ready to begin. The singing was gorgeous and I was really impressed with how they got it together so quickly without anyone speaking to them.
The students are more independent in Japan and are expected to do what needs to be done without being asked. I constantly noticed students beginning their chores without anyone asking them. At the end of class, those in charge of cleaning, serving lunch, etc. were on task immediately.