Japanese education "reform"?
Covert
Hi all,
Not to belabor the point, but here is some Japanese newspaper commentary
on the logic (such as it were) of the Japanese government's proposed
educational "reforms," which include mandatory volunteer service for
Japanese schoolchildren.
This biting editorial appears in today's Mainichi Daily News, having
originally appeared in Japanese the day before yesterday in the
vernacular Mainichi Shimbun, a newspaper with nationwide circulation in
Japan.
Regards,
Brian Covert
(KnoK NEWS)
in Osaka, Japan
-----------------------------
Mainichi Daily News - Monday, September 25, 2000
http://www.mainichi.co.jp/english/news/opinion.html
EDUCATION REFORM (editorial)
The interim report submitted on Friday by the National Commission on
Educational Reform to Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori contains suggestions in
17 areas and covers all phases of education, from preschoolers to higher
learning. It proposes some bold ideas, such as the establishment of
"community schools" and a much more flexible curriculum.
At the same time, there are proposals that would effectively slam the
door on "problem children." It is thus difficult to give a general
appraisal of its merits and shortcomings.
It appears consistent, though, in its lack of sufficient debate. The 17
suggestions seem to have been made before they were thoroughly discussed
by the 26 commission members. The report is uneven and it is difficult to
identify an overriding theme.
One of its suggestions, which attracted considerable attention when it
was first put forward in a working group, is the requirement for students
to do community service. The full commission's report calls on students
to live communally for two weeks (elementary and middle school students)
or four weeks (high school students) and perform community service.
It also recommends that all 18-year-olds be required to serve the
community for one year in such areas as farming, forest management or
caring for the elderly.
There is no denying that youngsters would benefit from an opportunity to
participate in such activities, but "community service" has been only
vaguely defined; it should obviously cover a much broader spectrum of
activity than simply working close to nature or looking after those
needing nursing care.
Moreover, inasmuch as it is a "service" students should not be forced to
perform it. A climate conducive to serving the community would certainly
be a help, but there should be greater flexibility to allow the students
themselves to choose what they wish to do.
The idea of having all 18-year-olds devote a year to community service,
moreover, is unrealistic and should be scrapped. Considering that the
proposal would mean asking people to make a colossal commitment, the
reasoning behind the concept is unbelievably shallow. Trying to push such
an idea on the public would jeopardize its trust in the commission.
Vagueness is also found in the idea of building public "community
schools" as well. Such schools are part of an effort to expand
educational opportunities. They would be designed to be more responsive
to local needs and enable community members themselves to run them.
Details as to what specific needs they will meet, at what schooling level
classes will be taught, and how local governments will take part, though,
are as yet unclear.
Among the more promising suggestions in the commission's report is the
formulation of a basic plan for school reform, such as those covering
teacher placement, new facilities, teaching of information technology,
acceptance of foreign students and greater opportunities for learning
outside the classroom. Because what is needed now is not a new set of
principles but a strategy to steadily implement reform measures, the
formulation of such a basic plan would be very significant.
Public outlays for education as a share of gross national product is
still low compared to other industrial nations. Big changes cannot be
expected without sizable investments. We hope that enough funds will be
made available to achieve the necessary reforms.
From the Mainichi Shimbun - Sept. 23, 2000
(c) 2000 The Mainichi Newspapers Co.
Not to belabor the point, but here is some Japanese newspaper commentary
on the logic (such as it were) of the Japanese government's proposed
educational "reforms," which include mandatory volunteer service for
Japanese schoolchildren.
This biting editorial appears in today's Mainichi Daily News, having
originally appeared in Japanese the day before yesterday in the
vernacular Mainichi Shimbun, a newspaper with nationwide circulation in
Japan.
Regards,
Brian Covert
(KnoK NEWS)
in Osaka, Japan
-----------------------------
Mainichi Daily News - Monday, September 25, 2000
http://www.mainichi.co.jp/english/news/opinion.html
EDUCATION REFORM (editorial)
The interim report submitted on Friday by the National Commission on
Educational Reform to Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori contains suggestions in
17 areas and covers all phases of education, from preschoolers to higher
learning. It proposes some bold ideas, such as the establishment of
"community schools" and a much more flexible curriculum.
At the same time, there are proposals that would effectively slam the
door on "problem children." It is thus difficult to give a general
appraisal of its merits and shortcomings.
It appears consistent, though, in its lack of sufficient debate. The 17
suggestions seem to have been made before they were thoroughly discussed
by the 26 commission members. The report is uneven and it is difficult to
identify an overriding theme.
One of its suggestions, which attracted considerable attention when it
was first put forward in a working group, is the requirement for students
to do community service. The full commission's report calls on students
to live communally for two weeks (elementary and middle school students)
or four weeks (high school students) and perform community service.
It also recommends that all 18-year-olds be required to serve the
community for one year in such areas as farming, forest management or
caring for the elderly.
There is no denying that youngsters would benefit from an opportunity to
participate in such activities, but "community service" has been only
vaguely defined; it should obviously cover a much broader spectrum of
activity than simply working close to nature or looking after those
needing nursing care.
Moreover, inasmuch as it is a "service" students should not be forced to
perform it. A climate conducive to serving the community would certainly
be a help, but there should be greater flexibility to allow the students
themselves to choose what they wish to do.
The idea of having all 18-year-olds devote a year to community service,
moreover, is unrealistic and should be scrapped. Considering that the
proposal would mean asking people to make a colossal commitment, the
reasoning behind the concept is unbelievably shallow. Trying to push such
an idea on the public would jeopardize its trust in the commission.
Vagueness is also found in the idea of building public "community
schools" as well. Such schools are part of an effort to expand
educational opportunities. They would be designed to be more responsive
to local needs and enable community members themselves to run them.
Details as to what specific needs they will meet, at what schooling level
classes will be taught, and how local governments will take part, though,
are as yet unclear.
Among the more promising suggestions in the commission's report is the
formulation of a basic plan for school reform, such as those covering
teacher placement, new facilities, teaching of information technology,
acceptance of foreign students and greater opportunities for learning
outside the classroom. Because what is needed now is not a new set of
principles but a strategy to steadily implement reform measures, the
formulation of such a basic plan would be very significant.
Public outlays for education as a share of gross national product is
still low compared to other industrial nations. Big changes cannot be
expected without sizable investments. We hope that enough funds will be
made available to achieve the necessary reforms.
From the Mainichi Shimbun - Sept. 23, 2000
(c) 2000 The Mainichi Newspapers Co.