Another thing I have noticed while working at Furuko is a seemingly greater expression of "school pride" and unity than I felt during my days in a public high school. Students at my school in Tacoma, Washington were much more "individual identities" who grouped together 5 times a week at a common location. Being a member of F.P.H.S. was not even remotely the "be all and end all" of what defined us as persons. Here at Furuko, however, I have noticed that the label of being a "Furuko-sei" (student of Furukawa H.S) takes a much larger role in these students' lives. We have a School Song - one that is routinely sung and known by everyone (well, except for me!). There is a school cheer, which even the teachers do at some of our parties. I'm guessing that my high school back home had a school song, but I don't remember hearing it even once, not even on graduation. And a school cheer? We had cheerLEADERS, but...
Of course, the mere fact that every single student in this school had to pass the same test in order to be here creates a sense of unity among them, and a sense of pride in being successful. These feelings of pride and unity are continually reinforced through major school-wide events - our Sports Day, Cultural Festival, and competitions with other schools, each of which generates practically 100% participation. Could you imagine every single student in an American high school choosing to participate in the Homecoming Activities, or the School Fair? |
