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stretch
Joined: 28 Jun 2004
Posts: 59
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 Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2005 5:04 pm Post subject: seniding my kids to japanese public school |
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Hello all,
I've seen lots of posts on how expensive it is to send your kids to international schools, private schools etc. What about plain old Japanese public school. My kids are both very young and I was planning on sending them both to Japanese public school. We already have a bilingual house at home so I'm not worried about them learning enlgish or japanese.
Any info is appreciated.
Thanks |
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taikibansei
Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Posts: 811
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2005 5:58 pm Post subject: Re: seniding my kids to japanese public school |
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| stretch wrote: |
Hello all,
I've seen lots of posts on how expensive it is to send your kids to international schools, private schools etc. What about plain old Japanese public school. My kids are both very young and I was planning on sending them both to Japanese public school. We already have a bilingual house at home so I'm not worried about them learning enlgish or japanese.
Any info is appreciated.
Thanks |
We had good experiences with Japanese public schools. Indeed, I think the elementary schools in Japan are great...especially if your child is bilingual.
Bullying can be an issue, but in our case, a parental visit with the teacher, plus a lot of volunteer work on my part helping out in the local community, seemed to solve the problem. Especially, try to build relationships with the other parents in your area--they'll then become your allies if anything goes wrong. |
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Sherri
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Posts: 749
Location: The Big Island, Hawaii
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| Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2005 8:47 pm Post subject: |
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I decided for many, many reasons not to send my two children to Japanese schools (some educational, some personal, and some family-related). I talked to lots of international couples about this who had kids in the system. Parents with kids in elementary schools seemed overall to be happy with their decision. Though as taikibansei mentioned, sometimes there were bullying problems. The problems seem to start in junior high and high school when you and your kids get caught up in the exams, jukus and all that other pressure. If you have any experience teaching in junior high or high schools, you have seen this for yourself. If you have taught at university level, you can see for yourself the way that kids turn out from the system.
I would say, try to find parents of children who have gone through the whole system and talk to them about their experiences, not just the people with kids at elementary school level. It helped me with my decision. Still it is a very personal decision and what works well for one family may not be good for another. I have a great deal of respect for bicultural families who choose to send their kids to Japanese schools and make a success of it.
Best
Sherri |
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bearcat
Joined: 08 May 2004
Posts: 367
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| Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2005 9:09 pm Post subject: |
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| You still may end up having to pay for them at public schools as well... just not as much as a private one. |
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taikibansei
Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Posts: 811
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2005 9:10 pm Post subject: |
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| Sherri wrote: |
| The problems seem to start in junior high and high school when you and your kids get caught up in the exams, jukus and all that other pressure. |
This is a good point. Most people I knew with kids had great things to say about Japan's elementary schools; however, their public junior high and high school experiences were much less positive.
We returned to the States before this became an issue for us, so no firsthand experiences here. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2005 11:37 pm Post subject: |
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Maybe this site has some good information.
www.tokyowithkids.com |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2005 11:49 pm Post subject: |
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| Sherri wrote: |
I decided for many, many reasons not to send my two children to Japanese schools (some educational, some personal, and some family-related). I talked to lots of international couples about this who had kids in the system. Parents with kids in elementary schools seemed overall to be happy with their decision. Though as taikibansei mentioned, sometimes there were bullying problems. The problems seem to start in junior high and high school when you and your kids get caught up in the exams, jukus and all that other pressure. If you have any experience teaching in junior high or high schools, you have seen this for yourself. If you have taught at university level, you can see for yourself the way that kids turn out from the system.
Sherri |
I am kind of coming up to that point with a 10 year old in fifth grade, who by the end of my current contract will soon hit junior high. I have to consider if I want to continue working in Japan, or be like Taikinbansei and head home or safer shores overseas, in an English speaking country.
One option we have is a school that accepts returnees from overseas, or caters to bilingual or bicultural children. I know Ritsumeikan in Kyoto has such a program for bilingual kids coming from international schools etc. Its still a Japanese high school but i dont think you get the "de-programming" and socialisation of kids that goes on in regular junior high schools to make them 'Japanese'.
And yes, I am worried about my daughter ending up like my university students. Nice kids, but generally rather shallow with every ounce of individuality squeezed out of them. |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2005 12:26 am Post subject: |
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| PAULH wrote: |
And yes, I am worried about my daughter ending up like my university students. Nice kids, but generally rather shallow with every ounce of individuality squeezed out of them. |
That's exactly how I see it. I am always amazed how devoid of personality many of my 1st year students are. I think the Borgs could learn a thing or two about the assimilation techniques of the Japanese education system. |
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