Throughout Japan, Nagano is known for its educational system and teachers. Our group had the opportunity to see the "best of the best."
Dai-ichi Junior High was completed in April of 1999 at a cost of 64 million. I believe most of us were in a state of awe upon entering its front doors. A huge Zelcova tree rises through the center of the school. It has three branches which symbolize..morality, physical excellence, and knowledge.....ideals, we were to see that echoed throughout Dai-ichi.
There are three floors connected with an open spiral staircase.
The large classrooms have beautiful stained wooden floors and contain state
of
the art equipment. What teacher could ask for more? Maybe a mountain view?
Well, this school has that too!
Dai-ichi Junior High School has a faculty of forty teachers and a student body of 600. The average class is attended by forty students, but we saw many classes with smaller groups of children. The children at Dai-ichi wear uniforms and sneakers with colored stripes; seventh graders wear shoes with red stripes, 8th graders green, and 9th graders wear blue. This makes it easy for teachers to recognize what grade students are in while they are anywhere in the school.
As in the elementary school, children attending junior high school in Japan study Japanese, arithmetic, science, social studies, and physical education. In middle school English is added to this list. In addition, children have classes in technology, home econmics, music, and computers.
Being greeted by the students.
The day of our visit was not a typical day for the students. Special activities were arranged which we were able to take part in. As a result, we didn't see academic classes being taught. However, we did see the children in special classes like music, art, and computers. Because I had never seen anyone play the koto, this was of special interest to me.
I was also anxious to see the computer classes, as I hope to connect my 6th - 8th grade students to Japanese classrooms through the Internet. While in Japan, I learned that most schools don't have online computers. This is changing, however. I was happy to learn that the computer lab at Dai-ichi is Internet connected.
As I walked the halls and visited the classrooms, I couldn't help but notice that how clean the building was.... not a scrap of anything on the floors. I found the same to be true in the elementary school we toured. There are no custodians in either school. The students and staff spend about fifty minutes everyday cleaning. Even the principal ties a scarf around his head and joins in. What we witnessed was a true sense of cooperation. Everyone worked together and seemed to be enjoying their work. I truly believe that having the children responsible for their schools creates a sense of caring and accountabiliy.
After visiting the classes, we had the opportunity to meet with members of the PTA, as well as with teachers and the principal. They anxious to learn about education in the U.S. and very interested in their children's education.
The President of the PTA told us,
As with caring parents the world over, the Japanese want the best for their children. This is certainly reflected at the Dai-ichi Junior High School.
When our group left, children and adults lined the driveway as our bus pulled away. Students who were playing a game of baseball stopped the game and ran to see us off. I'll always remember the smiles, the warmth, the love......
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