Wednesday

Ichinoseki City Junior High School


Shoe cupboard


Art teachers Nancy Walkup, Kazusige Otomo, and Betsy Sio

Today was our first school visit, to Ichinoseki City Junior High. We spent the entire day there, beginning with a meeting with the principal and vice principal in the library, then observing classes on our own as we wished. I set in on two art classes, one with just special education students and the other with regular students. Mr. Otomo was the art teacher and he was very welcoming. The special education students were making monoprints from collages they had made earlier and the regular students worked on a collage design based on Japanese history and culture from the area. I also participated in a music class where the students taught us how to play the koto, a traditional Japanese stringed instrument.

After lunch, the students presented an unbelievable program they had planned for us. We were seated in front of the entire school in the gym. The program included speeches, the school band, the entire school singing, Kancho daiko drums, and cheerleaders (or yell leaders). Laura, the music teacher with us, was invited to lead the band (which consisted only of girls. The level of professionalism for every event was far beyond what our schools can do. The Japanese schools obviously have high expectations for every student and place a strong focus on student effort. Everyone seemed very glad for us to be there.

Near the end of the day we got to see the students as they cleaned the entire school. Apparently this practice helps keep the school clean. Wearing different shoes for inside and outside definitely helps as well.

We all felt very welcomed and honored. This is why we are here - to experience Japanese schools and to be reminded how similar we all are.