Japan’s “Classroom Collapse”
Comments: 1
The Herald Trib carries a story from Howard French of The NY Times today about growing problems in Japanese elementary schools. Friends of mine who’ve taught junior high school report similar chaos, although junior high kids are animals the world over, so I didn’t really pay attention. According to this article, however, we’re on the verge of pre-pubescent anarchy with nearly a third of the 6,614 schools surveyed saying they had at least one class experiencing “collapse.”
In Japanese schools, disorder spreads
The lion’s share of the blame, however, [Chuji Yamada, principal of Idogaya Elementary School in Yokohama] reserved for today’s parents, who he said were spoiling their children with money, cell phones and other gifts, while spending less time with them. Instead, parents expect the school to take the major responsibility for imparting manners and other social skills.
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Posted to Oh, the Humanity • 2002.09.24 (Tue) • 09:46
Comments
Posted by Christopher Walker 2002.09.24, 18:57
The same thing has been happening in England in the last decade or so. Young students are being spoilt by their parents, and so it seems unreasonable to the students that anyone should ever tell them what to do or how to behave.
However, we’re now experiencing the first consequences of the null-parent. My mother works as a matron at school, and you wouldn’t believe the language and behaviour she has to deal with, from students as old as eighteen in some cases.
She’s even been warned to watch her back by some of the more aggressively nasty ones, and as you can imagine, she’s finding the job a very uncomfortable experience.
I don’t see this problem going away. In fact, I think it will continue to get worse until the only recourse is physical violence on the part of teachers.
“I’ve got four good reasons for you to do your homework!” a teacher shouts, raising a clenched, scarred fist.
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