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Yakamo · Joined: 24 Nov 2008 Posts: 27

So, as an ALT I noticed something that disgusted me, but at the same time did not surprise me. The JET hands out unit test results back to the students. I go over the test with some of the students and to my dismay, see a student that gets an 8 / 100 total score, and receives a B-. I checked my eyes to make sure I wasn't seeing things, then looked completely over his test to see that almost everything on the entire 3 pages had been marked incorrect. That student got a B- ??? Seriously?

--------WTF--------

In addition, I go over the test with a different student, and see that they had gotten a total score of 82 / 100--- also with a B-.

This is so shameful. It makes me wonder why they let this sort of thing continue if there is no option for failure. Absolutely unbelievable. I go over to the gradebook and check that students grade for the unit test (the lower scoring student of course) and sure enough, a B- is put in there.

::FACE PALM::

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

There is obviously more to the story than what you are telling us.

TokyoLiz · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1548 Location: Tokyo, Japan

I've never seen teachers in Japan give letter grades, but then, there are all kinds of things going on out there in other schools.

What was the teacher's justification for giving the same letter grade to a low scoring paper and a high scoring paper?

Yakamo · Joined: 24 Nov 2008 Posts: 27

Well, if I knew what the story was, I would have posted it surely. I'm not sure what the JET was doing here, but I guess it is my fault for not asking. There is nothing really we can do about the education system here in that all students HAVE to pass junior high school. There is nothing special that I am not mentioning here (at least that I know of). Just simply stating an observation I had and my subsequent thoughts. Not really sure it would be worth arguing with the JET about why she gave a lower scoring student the same letter grade as a higher scoring student when there are close to 1000 kids at the school =/

Suggestions? Comments?

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

There could be any number of reasons for that grade, not all of which are good reasons. Since you are not an employee of the school, I'd say stay out of it.

G Cthulhu · Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 2:43 am Post subject: Re: Absolutely disgusted

Yawarakaijin · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 504 Location: Middle of Nagano

It all depends on your point of view really. Personally I think the ideal system would be a mix of both the western and Japanese systems.

I think for grade schools the Japanese system is just fine, with perhaps a few little tweaks thrown in here and there.

If I were to chose between a system that placed children, and we are talking about children here, on the "fast track" or "vocational track" versus a more egalitarion one I would go the egalitarian route.

I have vivid memories of having friends being told at the age of 13/14 that they just weren't up to taking the advanced courses in highschool. To me that is unconscionable. From the age of 13 those kids were sent down a certain path. Once you were in grade 10 "general" math or english, you were done.

Throw into the mix kids being kids, often not understanding the value of education, you can see where many get sent down a path that does them quite a disservice later in life. Subjects I had trouble with in grade 8 and 9 actually turned out to be the ones I excelled at later in life.

The greatest single thing my mother ever did for me, in my opinion, was to absolutely refuse that I be put into general level classes in highschool. My middle school grades probably warranted it but my mother was adamant, to the point of meeting with school officials.

Now when we talk about University, I much prefer the western sink or swim model. You should not be able to sleep through university.

For all you know the kid in question could have been a wonderful little student, accomplished in every other subject. Flunking this kid in English with the grade he "deserved" could very well prove counter productive in the long run.

I would much rather give a child and undeserved B than destroy any passion or desire he/she might have for learning English or any other course subject for that matter. At grade school level I just don't think it is a productive practice.

Obviously there are going to be different opinions on this matter but I have no problem handing out a B if it were done to keep a particular child motivated or give him/her a little longer to develop certain skills.

If it were up to me High School would be a lot different than what is it like today.

A lot more focus would be given to financial studies for one thing. Courses on finacial planning, investing, and the development of entrepeuneurial skills.

Languages. I think the study on various languages is of extreme importance in today's society.

Pyschology/Conflict resolution skills and so forth, for the multitude of challenges adults face that teenagers are, for the most part, simply unprepared for.

Build a well rounded person and he or she can chose what she wants to "be" later in life when they can make more informed/balanced decisions.

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

TokyoLiz · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1548 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Yakamo said

TokyoLiz · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1548 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Yakamo said

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

Yawarakaijin · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 504 Location: Middle of Nagano

Perhaps I was a little vaugue in my post. In regards to the changes I suggested, those were suggestion I had for the western school system. I have very little exposure to Japanese system and am thus unqualified to state how I think the Japanese should change.

As I look back on my high school education as an adult it is painfully obvious to me that it could have been much better.

Although I had what was a typical Canadian education I am aware that others' experiences may have been different.

English, Geography, Biology, Chemistry, Math, Gym, Physics, History and a few accounting classes. While I won't dispute the logic behind having a broad base of knowledge I aslo cannot admit that any of those particular classes really prepared me for the real world - for the challenges I would face as an adult.

Someone mentioned about there being more than enough information out there on the stock market that schools didn't have to spend time on it. While that may be true, I doubt that many 13-18 year olds naturally give much thought to investing during their highschool days.

In my view, education should be about exposing children to the realities and possibilities they will encounter upon entering adulthood. In all honesty I would have to give the educational system I went through a failing grade on that.

Sure, I'm proud that I can draw the rudimentary cellular structure of an amoeba or tell you how deep on average the Canadian Shield is, but I still feel a little hard done by by the overall educational system of the day.

Sorry I missed your original question. I meant studying a language with the goal of becoming a fluent speaker. Even in Canada, an officially bi-lingual country, I took French once a week and after grade 10 it wasn't even mandatory in Ontario. A disgrace in my opinion.

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

rxk22 · Joined: 19 May 2010 Posts: 1629

I know at my HSs tha a 30% was passing. A lot of ests were multiple choice too. So it's pretty easy to pass the tests. Pretty pointless.

Yawarakaijin · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 504 Location: Middle of Nagano

One certainly has to watch his words around here doesn't he:) I don't think that admitting I don't have an in depth knowledge of the Japanese education system precludes me from thinking a "few minor tweaks" wouldn't be a bad idea. Right of the top of my head I could say that I wish that bullying was handled differently or that a little more focus be spent on world history. I'll leave it at that.

I think that what some people fail to recognize is that the goal of education seems to be a little different here. I work in a Japanese company where the majority of the workers are rotated throughout various positions in the company in order to get a better understanding of how the company works and to become flexible in their job duties.

In the west you train to be a chemical lab technician, and for the most part, that's what you do, day in and day out. Japanese companies are structured much differently.

I would imagine the Japanese education system is a product of what they feel is needed to prepare their children for within their society.

Spartan education taught it's children what they needed to know in order to become strong warriors, the Athenian model taught it's children how to become model citizens.