Wednesday, April 18th, 2007
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| Thirteen Things about Elementary School in Japan
1…. Elementary school is from 1st to 6th grade. Kindergarten is housed in separate buildings and administered separately.
2…. School lunch is provided and is eaten by all students. No lunch bags. No character lunch boxes to shop for at the beginning of the school year.
3…. There is no cafeteria. The kids eat lunch in the classroom at their desks. (They do move their desks to make little groups.)
4…. The teacher eats the school lunch in the classrom with the students. No breaktime here.
5…. Kids don’t wear their shoes in school. At the entrance there are shoe boxes they are assigned. They switch their shoes for rubber soled, canvas upper slip-ons.
6…. Everyone is supposed to take their turn at PTA at least once during the six years. So what do you do when there’s that one person who refuses? My headache for today. 
7…. There really are no custodians. After recess, all the children clean the hallways, classrooms and even the toilets! My Italian aunt thought that was hysterical when my then second grade son told her he was scrubbing stalls.
8…. Every school has an Undo-kai, kind of like a huge field day that happens either in May or Sept/Oct. The school is divided into a red team and a white team. They compete in various races and relays with score tallied and winning team declared at the end. The event lasts all day, with a break for a picnic lunch. At schools with a huge population, parents will stake out spots on the field as early as 7am.
9…. In first grade, children start learning music on a pianica–a combination small keyboard and harmonica instrument. In third grade they switch to a recorder and by the higher grade levels are taught various band instruments, so that children leave school able to read basic music.
10….Remember EGBDF or FACE? Here it’s do re mi fa so la ti do. That’s how the notes are named.
11….When it comes to social studies, first graders learn about their school. In second grade they explore their neighborhood visiting shops and parks. In third grade they walk or take the bus to nearby neighborhoods, schools, shops and parks and interview the people. The city even provides a textbook that explores the history and development of the city that children are supposed to learn.
12….The gym doubles as the auditorium so no bleachers. There aren’t any locker rooms either. Kids change into a gym uniform in the classroom.
13….Cram schools are a fact of life here. And if you get me started on this, I could rant for an entire blog. I’ll spare you instead.
I think in any school system there are positives and negatives. None of them are perfect. So what do you think?
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That was really interesting! I used to teach elementary school here in Texas, so that is quite an eye-opener. You mentioned that they “changed” in the classroom. Do they wear a certain outfit for PE? Our elem schools here don’t have that.
Very cool, though!
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Our kids are spoiled here.
Once your kids clean at school, does it carry over to home?
You are so right about the positives and negatives!
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Wow! As a lifelong musician (piano), I love the idea of teaching children basic music-reading skills and how to play an instrument. And that’s really something to think of the kids having to clean the classrooms, the hallways, and the bathrooms, too! I don’t think that’s a bad thing, but it’s so different than schools here in America.
Cram schools don’t sound so hot, though. Ugh.
Thanks for a fascinating post! I read it out loud to my hubby who found it interesting, too.
Happy TT!
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I agree with the others that’s a very good school system. But changing in the classroom and they are teenagers, boys and girls together ?
When I was in school I would have hated to clean toilets and learn music notes ! I never understood them although I played flute. I was able by hearing to play, but in notes I was hopeless !
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Kelli–for the public elementary schools in my city, the kids change to standard uniform (though the color might vary from school to school)
Jen–I wish it carried over to home. They never seem to pick up their clothes and toys. I think that’s universal.
Thomma Lyn–It is different but my kids don’t know anything else. I do like the fact that they learn to read and play a little. I learned because I took piano lessons as a child. In school I remember us singing a lot and learning the notes, but as for instruments, only some kids got to learn and that was from 4th grade.
Gattina–They’re in separate classrooms. In my school, we have extra classrooms not in use. I honestly don’t know how the schools that are full handle the situation.
Thanks everyone for stopping by and for the great comments!
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Man, a lot of those sound like my elementary school days – and I didn’t live in Japan.
I think it’s a great idea that the children clean the school. Perhaps not scrub the toilets at 7 years of age – but it would instill a sense of community, respect for buildings, and understanding of hard work at a young age. That seems to be missing here these days.
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Interesting differences! Some of those things are very similar to elementary school in Canada. My mom said that they ate lunch in their classroom (no cafeteria), changed for gym in the washrooms (no locker room), and their gym had no bleachers (it was also used as an auditorium) so those things are similar to elementary schools in Japan!
Here in Germany, Kindergarten is separate from elementary school, and the entire school system is different. Also, after elementary school, the schools split into three different levels, depending on the academic abilities of the individual.
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This is fascinating! Thanks for the introduction. We’ve been talking quite a bit about the differences in German and American school systems, since my nieces are in German schools and my sons are in American ones, so I’ve been curious about how other countries differ as well.
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That’s an interesting list, I didn’t know anything about the subject. In my opinion it’s not the worst system. Some things are the same over here (1, 10).
Thanks for visiting my collections TT and your good wishes. I’ll get back to you about your questions!
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Interesting point. I love the fact that they eat at class.
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it was very interesting reading about school differences in Japan versus here. thanks hon!
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she–I have to say it’s not anything like my school. As for scrubbing toilets younger classes are paired with upper classes for cleaning, with the older kids supervising etc.
Dragonheart–Interesting to hear about Canada. How is it nowadays? I would’ve thought it similar to the US. Kindergarten is also a completely separate system here. Wonder if they copied the German system…
Naeva–The food is comes in these cafeteria like metal containers. The kids don aprons and dish out the food to their classmates. If you finish everything, you can go up for seconds if they’re available and if there’s only enough for one person, you do rock, paper, scissors to see who wins!
Rhian–You’re welcome! You brighten my day whenever you stop by!
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I wish we had more music in elementary schools here in Canada. They learn the basics of rhythm and note reading, and they do learn the recorder, but there should be more. Music is an important part of life.
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This was absolutely fabulous Gabriella!!! What an expereince and I felt a taste of it through your list.
Here is my TT list:
http://gnosticminx.blogspot.com/2007/04/fashion-and-movies.html
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I love how your schools sound. Cleaning up after themselves makes them more responsible. I’m not sure what a cram school is but the rest of what you have written sounds really nice.
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This is so interesting. I will not rant about schools or parents on your blog. We took my kids out of public school and now they go to a Catholic school. IT was been great for them. My son is going to go to a Jesuit High School. ANd, I am going to the poor farm. LOL!
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I remember a lecturer at Uni telling me how in Japan being asked to desig a school is considered one of the biggest honours an architect can be offered.
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Interesting to compare the differences between Japan and my son’s class. I wish I could see Japanese schools in person!
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But there are many positive things if you think about it. Kids will learn to be clean and responsible. I guess. Right?
But no lunch break for teachers? Ouch!
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I really like the idea of the kids cleaning the school. That would go a long way toward countering the prevailing belief that they deserve everything on a silver platter.
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Tink–like I said, there are both positives and negatives. You work with the system you got.
Christine–the music program is something I really do like. My experience in school was only select kids got more in depth exposure. They also have a brass band club from the 4th-6th grade. Kids practice every morning before school.
Candy Minx–glad you enjoyed today’s list.
AnnMarie–I wish I could say cleaning made my kids more responsible. I’m still working on that.:grin:
Nancy–Are you in the US? I really do think the US systems needs an overhaul and more money needs to be spent on educating our children.
Susan–come visit Japan anytime.
Sophisticated Writer–I think kids are the same the world over. All you can do is try to make them more responsible and clean. LOL!
Kate–with all the technology nowadays and a culture that expects instant gratification, I think that’s a tough battle you’re talking about.
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Very interesting! I wish we implemented several of these here in MO, especially the students learning to clean and basic music skills. Now, the oldest monster only gets music and art once a week.