Job Discussion Forums

cheryl · Joined: 01 Apr 2003 Posts: 119 Location: Japan

Hi everyone,
I posted this thread initially in the general discussion forum but since the incident happened in Japan, i figured i'd post it here also....

Hi everyone,

I know I probably should post this in the Japan section since i'm in Japan but I wanted to get as much feedback as possible. Here's my question: In a team teaching situation, have you ever experienced violence in the classroom? Have you seen a teacher hit a student or vice versa? If so, how did you handle it? Did you tell your kocho or kyoto sensei's?

easyasabc · Joined: 13 Jul 2003 Posts: 179 Location: Japan

Celeste · Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2003 7:33 am Post subject:

I do see a bit of it here, but I got really desensitized to it when I live in Korea. I teach elementary school here, and I have seen (and put a stop to) a fair amount of kid to kid violence, but probably no more than I would see in a Canadian classroom. The thing that really ticks me off is when I can see that kids are being physically intimidated by other students and the homeroom teachers do nothing. This is where bullying can be nipped in the bud, but a lot of teachers prefer to turn a blind eye because they were never trained to deal with these issues.

Sherri · Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2003 7:47 am Post subject:

Did anyone see this article?

Amazing that the teacher was only suspended!

http://www.japantimes.com/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20031009a5.htm

Lawyers aid schoolboy harassed over American heritage

FUKUOKA (Kyodo) More than 500 lawyers have joined hands with a 9-year-
old boy in a lawsuit filed Wednesday with the Fukuoka District Court
demanding 13 million yen from his school and a teacher who repeatedly
ordered the child to kill himself.

The boy, a fourth-grader who attends a municipal school in Fukuoka's
Nishi Ward, suffers posttraumatic stress disorder as a result of his
teacher's actions, according to the lawsuit.

In an effort to show solidarity with the pupil and to make him feel
that he is not isolated, 503 lawyers from around the country have put
their names to the lawsuit. It is rare for such a large number of
lawyers to be involved in one case.

According to the suit, between May and June this year the 46-year-old
male teacher repeatedly told the boy, whose great-grandfather is an
American, to commit suicide, saying such things as: "Your blood is
filthy, jump from your condominium and die," and "Haven't you died
yet? Make sure you do today." The teacher has since been suspended
from work.

Furthermore, the teacher injured him on several occasions by making
the boy choose from five forms of punishment, when it came time to go
home. In one such punishment, "Pinnochio," the boy's nose was pinched
so hard that it bled, the lawsuit said.

Lawyers for the boy, who suffers convulsions and nausea and has said
he wants to "change his blood" and that he does not deserve to live,
made an appeal to colleagues nationwide asking for support.

The Japan Times: Oct. 9, 2003

As Das Fads · Joined: 06 Mar 2003 Posts: 44

I've seen kids beaten to a pulp by teachers; seen kids lay into each other in the classroom (I just yell for the teacher but keep my distance); seen kids hit and punch the special kids coz they are different. Tolerant bunch, aren't they, kids? My worst one was seeing a teacher flash a burning cigarette lighter across a kid's face. No major injuries ensued, except the ones to my psyche. This is all in government junior high schools in Kanto.

Kapt. Krunch · Joined: 01 Apr 2003 Posts: 163

If I'm related to the boy I'd beat the teacher within an inch of his life. NOT JOKING! Suspension is WEAK. Mad

G Cthulhu · Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2003 3:30 am Post subject:

A fair amount of kid on kid stuff (which the teachers (SHS) do nothing about unless blood is involved, "because the kids have to learn to sort it out themselves" (which they usually do, although I tell them to stop if I see it)) and teachers would sometimes shout at students.

The only teacher I ever worked with that was every physically violent (two occasions only) was warned the first time and fired the second time.

I wasn't there the second time, but I walked out on him the first time. I didn't report it, as such, just went and asked a senior teacher what I should do about it, which was enough to start the wheels turning.

As for there being no rules against physical punishment, wrong. It *is* illegal in Japan.

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

As a teacher at an eikawa (we only see our students once a week) violence isn't really commonplace. However, having said that, I live fairly far from any BIG city (like Tokyo or Osaka)... The city I'm in has a pop. of approx. 200,000.

I've had to physically break apart some fights, and restrain students, as well as having to confiscate weapons brought into class: knife, pellet gun, etc.....

So, let's just say that it's not exactly an inner-city High School somewhere in the "projects" of Big-City, USA.... Doesn't mean you don't have to be on your toes and watch out for the odd bad-apple incident.

That's my two bits on it anway...

JD

prlester · Joined: 08 Jan 2005 Posts: 92

worked at a hs and never saw any kind of violence. once a teacher raised her voice to demand the kocho give her time in a room for drama club. The teachers were always making sure i wasn't too friendly with the students. they looked down on me horseplaying with the boys, only four-five years younger than me.
pretty smooth running place.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Young teacher at my private HS was involved in scuffles with students who were troublemakers anyway. He was suspended twice. Third time he was asked to leave.

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

One student attacked another with a box-knife in one of my classes, I wasn't in the room but evidently it was full-on.

Both gone.

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

I know of a recent incident where a public school teacher threw a kid across a room, proceeded to kick him down the hallway, grab him by the scruff of the neck and would've likely beat the shinola out of him... Fortunately the kyoto sensei intervened and everyone calmed down after about 10 minutes.

The problem with this type of behavior occurring, in spite of it being illegal, is that: a) it's acceptable by local standards (regardless of what the lawbooks say), b) the kid won't say anything to his parents (probably because he knows if he does, he'll get it DOUBLE from his parents OR they won't believe him)... c) the school administration is in on it d) no one will put their neck out on the line and risk their job/career by whistleblowing... d) there are so many levels of administration, it won't get past the kacho or bucho at the local BoE... Then, IF it even ever makes it so far, the teacher will just quietly get transferred to the middle of NOWHERE, in the remotest part of the prefecture...

Remember, there's a reason WHY people can walk around downtown Tokyo servicing themselves! (x-ref post: http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=16610 ) Because the maintaining harmony (wa) is much more important than raising a stink about something....