More Fun School Visits
This is a picture taken at the Shiogama Girls High School during their afternoon clubs period. Students stay as late as eight o'clock pm to take part in a rich assortment of club activities. Actually, they are not allowed to take on part time jobs, because that would interfere with their club activities. These are taken very seriously and allow the students the opportunity to develop mastery in athletic and cultural endeavors such as archery, tennis,softball, kendo, calligraphy, band, orchestra, koto, and judo.
We spent today at the all girl's high school and yesterday at a middle school, which had both girls and boys enrolled. Both groups of students were lively and inquisitive, although a number of students- especially the girls in the middle school seemed reserved and shy. We were treated like superstars. The kids cheered us in and out of their campuses and in between our comings and goings we went on building tours, listened to lectures, observed classes, ate Japanese style school lunches (yum!), played games, and asked and answered all sorts of questions. The students at the middle school performed the most amazing traditional drumming, along with a wonderful folk-dance native to Shiogama and a great brass band version of the Star Spangled Banner! At the high school, we were welcome by a beautiful choral performance and whole school assembly. Later, after observing classes, we participated in a tea ceremony and watched a koto (traditional japanese harp) performance along with so many other things it's making my head spin.
It's been great. Visiting the schools and interacting with the students and teachers has been invigorating and, to put it simply, a whole lot of fun. We were all a bit sad about today marking the last of our school visits, but excited about meeting our host families tomorrow. They are coming to pick us up for our home stays over the weekend. I've got to go finish my wash (at 300 yen a load) and pack my bags in preparation for check out tomorrow morning at 9:30am. Oyasumi nasai. (Good night).
posted by vwalchak at 5:04 AM
4 Comments:
Vicki-
It will be so interesting to hear your insights about why American elementary school children are so unfocussed in comparison to Asian children. We had a speaker several years ago, actually a demographer, who compared Japanese, Korean, and American cultures and it was very apparent that we're not doing something right here in the States. Enjoy your last few days!
Shelley
Vicki-
If you have any time to ask questions about the role of the school librarian, I would be very interested. For example, do students come to the library only for storytime and to pick out books? Do librarians help with curriculum planning? Do they collaborate and teach with teachers?
Thanks! Shelley
Vicki -
Enjoying the travelogue. It's apparent that you are enjoying the adventure as well as absobing another culture's view of education. I'll be curious to see how art is viewed and used within the Japanese system compared to how we approach it in the U.S.
Konichiwa Ms. Walchak,
Do you think you would want to live in Japan? It looks like you're having fun. We hope you come back to Patrick Henry. Did you get a chance to teach Art in Japan? Do you like the food? We'll see you next week on Monday.
Ms. Cassata's class
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