==JAPAN: KM== [Education]

Teachers talk about scenes of present-day classrooms in the quarterly The Present Day and Education, no.39. One case is about children who are in the first grade in elementary school. A teacher hands out papers. Then, children who sit in the rear of the classroom cry, "The teacher doesn't give a paper to me, so I won't do it." They can't wait their turn although they see the teacher hand out papers in turn from the front of the classroom. Another case is about children who are in the second grade in elementary school. Though a morning meeting is being held, children are chatting with one another. The teacher of another class says, "You, listen to the teacher." One child says, "Don't meddle!" The teacher says angrily, "You, what's your name?" Then, the child takes a bad attitude toward the teacher and says, "I will never tell you my name! If I do, I'm sure you will tell on me to my parents." In not only elementary school but also junior high school, there are cases like the following. One student chews gum during a class and spits it out wherever he (or she) likes. A teacher admonishes him (or her) for chewing gum, and then the student says, "What does it matter? Not only me but many students do it too!" Such a phenomenon called the "Collapsing Class" can happen in any school to some extent. Furthermore, nowadays such children are never exceptional.
In the world of education, "The new view of scholastic ability" has been introduced. In other words, the former tendency to put emphasis on the ability to pass the entrance examination has been reformed in order to accept and respect each child's personality and freedom. However, now there are more children who easily get mad over trifles, a "Collapsing Class" happens commonly, and the number of grave crimes by children who are apparently diligent is increasing. Of course it is good to respect personality and freedom of children. But it is natural that various problems will arise if people who are concerned with education don't deepen their understanding of what true freedom is.
The meaning of the word "freedom" implies essentially that one behaves of one's own will. If one wants to be free, one is required to have a clear will. And it is not permissible to violate the rights of others for one's own freedom. To be truly free, it is necessary for one to think carefully--"What do I want to do?" "What do I need for it?" "How does my behavior influence those around me?" and so on--and to have a clear will based on overall judgment.
In the education of today, although people give importance to accepting and respecting freedom, under the present circumstances, their idea of freedom is quite different from true freedom, I think. Moreover, they mistake mere selfishness for freedom, I feel. Children tend to confuse freedom with selfishness, and insist on their rights without taking their responsibility. The other side, school side, totally prohibits teachers from inflicting physical punishment on children, so it is impossible for teachers not only to severely scold children but also to show their own sense of values and value judgment to children. This results in accepting children's selfishness. This is the actual situation.
Including parents and teachers, people who are concerned with education need to deeply think about what the word "freedom" truly means. It may be inevitable that children mistake selfishness for freedom--because children know only given freedom. Still, it is these children that build the future. Now is the time that adults should seriously think about how to maintain relations with children, to bring them up and to teach them--so that children may not become selfish and unsocial adults. And there are many things that we should teach children--"If you want to be truly free, you must think about what you want to do and be attentive to those around you." It is not only impossible but also unrealistic to respect freedom and personality without learning how to behave socially. Respect for freedom and personality is not realized until adults teach children the rules of society.
Today, various problems with children including the "Collapsing Class" are getting more and more serious and throwing regular education into confusion. It is now that we must teach children the true meaning of the word "freedom" and the responsibility that accompanies it. And, this is important for not only some special people. Anyone who will become a father or mother and bring up children has to deeply think about this problem, never to overlook it.


"Getting It Together"

I have studied about education in a university, and I have two kinds of teacher's licenses. I didn't become a teacher after all, but education is work worth doing, I still think. So I am concerned about grave crimes by children. Every time I hear news about it, I can't help worrying about the children of today and the future that today's children bear. If you think about the children of today, education and so on, I will be glad.