Covert

Two news stories today from Japan here, one concerning children and
parents, and the other about teachers....

(1)
Daily Yomiuri -- 26 April 2000:

YOUTHS' ESSAYS REVEAL DESIRE FOR ATTENTION

Essays written by 40 youths arrested or taken into custody by the [Tokyo]
Metropolitan Police Department have been compiled into a book scheduled
to go on sale Wednesday.

According to an MPD official, "Zakennayo" (Don't Mess with Me), to be
published by Shueisha Inc., expresses the deep loneliness and desire of
youths to communicate with their parents.

Essays were collected by an MPD section responsible for investigating
juvenile crimes and
misconduct and compiled by a federation of mothers associations in Tokyo.

*for rest of the story, go to --->
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/newse/0426so09.htm

(2)
Mainichi Daily News -- 26 April 2000

MAYOR TELLS TEACHERS TO CHANGE TUNE

Yasuura, Hiroshima -- In a scathing letter lashing out at teachers in
this town's elementary and junior high schools, the mayor has demanded
that they quit their jobs if they fail to enforce a law requiring them
and their pupils to sing the national anthem, the Mainichi has learned.

Mayor Norihiko Okita, 54, mailed copies of the letter to some 90 faculty
members at seven municipal elementary and junior high schools, calling on
them to "resign if you cannot abide by the Constitution and the laws."

*for rest of the story, go to --->
http://www.mainichi.co.jp/english/news/news02.html


Regards,

Brian
in Osaka, Japan