Bullying in Japan
Covert
Hi all,
Just picked up the following news story about bullying in Japan that I
thought might of some interest.
Perhaps the most suprising thing about this article for parents in Japan
-- myself included! -- is that Japan reportedly comes in last place in
bullying among the countries surveyed. (But then again, whenever Japan's
Ministry of Education is involved in research, the results are best
viewed with some suspicion.)
Regardless, bullying in Japan remains an *extremely* serious problem for
schoolkids in Japan, and it's one of the reasons why Japanese families
are turning away from school in increasing numbers.
Thankfully, there are at least two viable choices in Japan: homelearning
and alternative education.
The vast majority of Japanese families are not aware of these choices,
and the Education Ministry, of course, is in no hurry to inform them. But
the choices are out there, and where Japanese families are aware of these
choices, we see more and more families in Japan embracing homelearning
and alternative education. A positive sign, indeed.
Here, then, is the story....
Brian Covert
(KnoK NEWS)
in Osaka, Japan
--------------------------------
[Daily Yomiuri, 14 May 2000]
PANEL ON BULLYING ISSUES SURVEY RESULTS, MANUAL
An international research group on bullying recently compiled a report,
including a bullying prevention manual, for the Education Ministry, The
Yomiuri Shimbun learned Saturday.
The report is based on survey results from four countries, including
Japan and Britain.
The report was compiled by a group of university professors from Japan
and other countries, in addition to officials from the National Institute
of Educational Research and the National Research Institute of Police
Science.
With research funds from the Education Ministry, the group surveyed a
total of 16,000 public school students, teachers and parents around the
nation in January 1997. A total of 7,000 students ranging from
fifth-grade primary school level to third-grade middle school pupils were
surveyed. At almost the same time, students in the same age bracket in
Britain, Holland and Norway were similarly surveyed.
The results showed that although many children from all four countries
reported experiencing bullying, their teachers and parents were much less
aware of the bullying than the bullied children's peers.
Only 13.9 percent of Japanese students polled had experienced bullying,
the lowest percentage among the four countries. The survey found that
39.4 percent of children in Britain and 27 percent in Holland had
experienced bullying.
However, Japan had the highest percentage of students bullied more than
once a week, or for a period longer than one academic term. The survey
also showed that more than 30 percent of the students felt they could not
report bullying to their teachers or parents because they feared the
bullies would retaliate.
The report figures suggest a tendency in Japan for the same victim to be
repeatedly bullied over an extended period. It showed that Japanese
students, as they grow older, have an increasing tendency to ignore
incidents of bullying, the report said.
The apathy of onlookers makes the problem of bullying worse, according to
the report.
It is necessary to involve everyone in tackling the problem of bullying,
the report said.
The report mentions Australia's "family group conferencing" as an example
of a positive approach toward solving bullying issues. The technique
involves bringing together not only a bully and a victim but also their
families, a school counselor, local residents and the police.
The report also listed three countermeasures to help bullied children:
Firstly, a teacher or counselor should privately consult with students
they suspect are being victimized. Slight trembling or irregular eye
movements may indicate that the student is being bullied, the report said.
During the counseling session, the teacher or counselor has to clearly
show that they are in a position to protect the victim, the report
stressed.
Secondly, conventional countermeasures by teachers and adults need to be
reviewed and a new system to help children support each other to
eradicate bullying must be set up.
As examples, the report proposes the introduction of a program to develop
the students' abilities to make friends with others, and a
teacher-supported buddy system between junior and senior students to stop
bullying.
Thirdly, Japanese school principals need to take a more active role.
School principals in Europe and the United States usually remember the
names and faces of their students, while principals and vice principals
in Japan tend to maintain distance between themselves and their students,
the report observed. The principals should have more contact with the
children and exercise stronger leadership, the report said.
(copyright 2000 - Yomiuri Shimbun)
Just picked up the following news story about bullying in Japan that I
thought might of some interest.
Perhaps the most suprising thing about this article for parents in Japan
-- myself included! -- is that Japan reportedly comes in last place in
bullying among the countries surveyed. (But then again, whenever Japan's
Ministry of Education is involved in research, the results are best
viewed with some suspicion.)
Regardless, bullying in Japan remains an *extremely* serious problem for
schoolkids in Japan, and it's one of the reasons why Japanese families
are turning away from school in increasing numbers.
Thankfully, there are at least two viable choices in Japan: homelearning
and alternative education.
The vast majority of Japanese families are not aware of these choices,
and the Education Ministry, of course, is in no hurry to inform them. But
the choices are out there, and where Japanese families are aware of these
choices, we see more and more families in Japan embracing homelearning
and alternative education. A positive sign, indeed.
Here, then, is the story....
Brian Covert
(KnoK NEWS)
in Osaka, Japan
--------------------------------
[Daily Yomiuri, 14 May 2000]
PANEL ON BULLYING ISSUES SURVEY RESULTS, MANUAL
An international research group on bullying recently compiled a report,
including a bullying prevention manual, for the Education Ministry, The
Yomiuri Shimbun learned Saturday.
The report is based on survey results from four countries, including
Japan and Britain.
The report was compiled by a group of university professors from Japan
and other countries, in addition to officials from the National Institute
of Educational Research and the National Research Institute of Police
Science.
With research funds from the Education Ministry, the group surveyed a
total of 16,000 public school students, teachers and parents around the
nation in January 1997. A total of 7,000 students ranging from
fifth-grade primary school level to third-grade middle school pupils were
surveyed. At almost the same time, students in the same age bracket in
Britain, Holland and Norway were similarly surveyed.
The results showed that although many children from all four countries
reported experiencing bullying, their teachers and parents were much less
aware of the bullying than the bullied children's peers.
Only 13.9 percent of Japanese students polled had experienced bullying,
the lowest percentage among the four countries. The survey found that
39.4 percent of children in Britain and 27 percent in Holland had
experienced bullying.
However, Japan had the highest percentage of students bullied more than
once a week, or for a period longer than one academic term. The survey
also showed that more than 30 percent of the students felt they could not
report bullying to their teachers or parents because they feared the
bullies would retaliate.
The report figures suggest a tendency in Japan for the same victim to be
repeatedly bullied over an extended period. It showed that Japanese
students, as they grow older, have an increasing tendency to ignore
incidents of bullying, the report said.
The apathy of onlookers makes the problem of bullying worse, according to
the report.
It is necessary to involve everyone in tackling the problem of bullying,
the report said.
The report mentions Australia's "family group conferencing" as an example
of a positive approach toward solving bullying issues. The technique
involves bringing together not only a bully and a victim but also their
families, a school counselor, local residents and the police.
The report also listed three countermeasures to help bullied children:
Firstly, a teacher or counselor should privately consult with students
they suspect are being victimized. Slight trembling or irregular eye
movements may indicate that the student is being bullied, the report said.
During the counseling session, the teacher or counselor has to clearly
show that they are in a position to protect the victim, the report
stressed.
Secondly, conventional countermeasures by teachers and adults need to be
reviewed and a new system to help children support each other to
eradicate bullying must be set up.
As examples, the report proposes the introduction of a program to develop
the students' abilities to make friends with others, and a
teacher-supported buddy system between junior and senior students to stop
bullying.
Thirdly, Japanese school principals need to take a more active role.
School principals in Europe and the United States usually remember the
names and faces of their students, while principals and vice principals
in Japan tend to maintain distance between themselves and their students,
the report observed. The principals should have more contact with the
children and exercise stronger leadership, the report said.
(copyright 2000 - Yomiuri Shimbun)