Job Discussion Forums

[king kakipi]

why would you?
why wouldn't you?
I'm thinking specifically for those of us who have kids that have a Japanese and non-J parent.
Thanks.

[gonzarelli]

I don't have kids but I'm planning to marry my Japanese GF. I would never put my kids through the education system in Japan. No question about it. Sure, the education system back home in Canada is not without its faults but the pros outweigh the cons.

From what I've seen, the main purpose of the education system is to raise obedient, self-sacrificing and conforming little citizens. Creativity and logic are stifled. The entire system revolves around the entrance exams and the students spend their years at school essentially practicing for these exams. Classes are very much teacher centered and the kids simply take down notes (if they're paying attention) and regurgitate the material for the next test. No actual understanding or application of the material is necessary.

A somewhat famous analysis of Japanese society is a speech given by a Japanese man named Dr. Masao Miyamoto.


"EXCERPT: How do the bureaucrats manage to castrate the Japanese so effectively? The school system is the place where they conduct this process. In order to be a castrated individual one has to cultivate masochism, and this is why the concept of self-sacrifice has penetrated Japanese society to such depths. Self-sacrifice can be seen in such behavior as not taking a long vacation, a willingness to participate in unpaid overtime, the absence of a personal life and death from overwork."

The full text of the speech can be found here:
http://www.nancho.net/anthcult/castreg.html

What I've said is based only on what I've seen. Others may disagree.

[Glenski]

why would you?
1) You are unable to return to your home country or to home-school here.
2) You don't have the money to pay for international schools, or like me, you don't even have an international school around.
3) You think Japanese education is ok, for whatever reasons.

why wouldn't you?
You are able to overcome #1 and #2 above.

[gaijin4life]

Although I dont have kids yet, at this point, even if they were half Japanese, I would be reluctant to educate them in Japan.

From what Ive seen, which to be honest, is mostly from jnr h/s up, there is often too much pressure for kids to conform. Also the thought of the blatant or insidious bullying that goes on here is not something I would want my kids to have any experience of.

On the other hand, it would be nice for a kid to experience Japanese school life. But `exam hell` is something I would prefer not to put my kids through.

Lastly, I would be concerned about what options are available for less-academic kids and any stigma/labels that might be attached to kids who are not so academic. I really think that kids have enough stress in their lives without adding to it through their school-life.

Just my thoughts ..

[MrCAPiTUL]

I think this is really interesting to bring up, actually. The reason being is that it appears as if many of the things people love about Japan, and make them want to stay, find their roots in the school system where they are criticized. How do people think the society that they are so endeared to got to be the way it is? Through up bringing and education.

[king kakipi]

Thanks for those opinions.

Are international schools in Japan prohibitively expensive and do they offer a more 'balanced' school life?

The 2 points that sway me against schooling my kid in Japan:-
he looks more 'gaijin' by the day and I believe (rightly or wrongly) that that might work against him in such a monocultural country;
the excessive pressures of cram schools etc. As I point out to my wife, kids here in Oz, and the UK where I have also taught, have far less academic demands to contend with after 3 pm (other than homework) yet we still produce top quality doctors etc

[Glenski]

Expensive? Yes.
More balanced? You tell me. The way I understand it, every class except Japanese is taught in English. If that's balanced, so be it, simply because the kids will have daily exposure to English all day long. Does that help them or hinder them in their ability to learn Japanese or to acquire Japanese culture?

[SeasonedVet]

[post deleted]

[Sherri]

[king kakipi]

Good point Glenski.

I thought that sending him to an Int School in Japan, where they're taught in English, would help him keep his options open, as he'll have 3 nationalities until he's 20 (J, Oz, UK). But I guess if he chose to stay in Japan post 20 he'd still have to 'exploit' his 'Japanese-ness' to fit in.

Difficult decision, as I am somewhat disenchanted with the way the education system here in Oz is headed (and I'm part of it, being a teacher...............)

[6810]

[markle]

[markle]

[6810]

[markle]