In the teacher's meeting yesterday, the vice-principal sounded angry. When I asked one of the teachers, she said that it was because some parents and some members of the community where the school is located complained about the students behavior. The school received a formal complaint- a letter written to the teachers and school administrators. This has happened a few times already last year.
Since I am not Japanese, I would have shrug it off. Why would parents complain about their children's behavior? And why would the community complain to the school and not to the parents? But the Japanese society thinks differently of a teacher's role and the school`s scope of work. Japanese teachers are called "senseis" and are regarded highly because they have a lot of things on their shoulders.
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| photo credit: http://www.eltworld.net/times/2012/05/living-and-working-in-japan-a-guide-for-us-citizens/ |
1. Most Japanese teachers are club advisers.
Being a club adviser sounds fun and rewarding (just like how Will Schuster feels in Glee!). The thing is school clubs in Japan are stressful. They meet numerous times in a week. They have clubs on spring break, summer break and even winter break. They have clubs on Saturdays and Sundays. They just seem to have clubs all the time. I think having club meetings help in keeping the students away from the streets. But for teachers's sake, I think having clubs these often is a test to one's sanity.
(More on Establishing Rapport with Japanese Co-Workers here.)
(More on Establishing Rapport with Japanese Co-Workers here.)
2. Japanese teachers call parents of absent or tardy students.
From where I studied, I had to present an excuse letter from my parents or doctor to explain why I was absent in school. In Japan, if a student is not seen during homeroom time, the class adviser would call the student's house and check. Personally, I think it's unnecessary burden to the teacher. I would understand if the teacher calls because a students has been absent for a long time. But I think it should be the parent's job to inform the school on the student's absence.
3. Japanese teachers advisers visit students's houses.
Japanese teachers don't only call houses, they are also required to visit. This is especially necessary for students with domestic problems This seems like a great way to show concern and to know the students but given other teacher's tasks, I would really feel burdened about it.
4. Japanese teachers also act as counselors.
So far with all the schools I've been to, I haven't seen a school counselor yet. Someone said that there's a counselor rounding up schools in the area but they don't talk directly to students. In effect, when students have problems, the Japanese homeroom teacher should deal with it. These include discipline problems, academic concerns, social issues and any slight thing that may be affecting the student.
(More on Gift Items for Japanese Teachers here)
(More on Gift Items for Japanese Teachers here)
5. Japanese teachers are communally and morally responsible for the students.
This is related to number four. Because the Japanese teachers act as all-around guardian, teachers are deemed responsible in just about every aspect of a student's life. I have heard some cases where teachers blame themselves if a student commits suicide or if a student gets tangled up with the law. They think they haven't done enough to straighten up or help the child.
Being a teacher in the classroom is hard enough as it is. To be responsible to just about everything seem impossible so I really admire these Japanese teachers. They are dedicated and hardworking. But I also believe that something's has to change. At the end of the day, a teacher is just any other person who can feel exhaustion and stress.
Being a teacher in the classroom is hard enough as it is. To be responsible to just about everything seem impossible so I really admire these Japanese teachers. They are dedicated and hardworking. But I also believe that something's has to change. At the end of the day, a teacher is just any other person who can feel exhaustion and stress.
