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XYZ Junior High School has had disciplinary problems since I
first started teaching there seven months ago. There is a group of 5-10
third grade (ninth grade) boys whose behavior has gradually become more
distracting, more forceful, and finally, more dangerous for both the rest
of the student body and the teaching staff.
These students started by ceasing to participate in class. This escalated
into talking, walking around the classroom, and otherwise actively
disrupting the class. It became virtually impossible to institute and
semblance of order, let alone conduct a meaningful class. Early this
semester, at some point in January or February, these students stopped
attending class regularly. I have seen them sitting in front of the school
during class time smoking, riding skateboards, playing guitar, or all of
the above.
However, the third grade classrooms are on the first floor, which is easily
accessible from the outside either through the side door or, more
frequently, through the windows. Thus, these students are able, and
allowed, to freely enter or exit the classroom at any time, being
unfailingly loud and disruptive. This is an impossible environment in
which to teach.
For those of you screaming to yourselves that you would never put up with
this, I'll tell you why this has happened. In Japan, it is law that every
student has the right to attend class. It is illegal to bar a student from
the classroom, whether through in school suspension, actual suspension, or
expulsion. In addition, there is absolutely no way to hold a student back
from passing a grade, and every student always graduates with his or her
class. In other words, no matter what the student does during the three
years in junior high school, even if they don't attend class for two of
those years (this is a real life example), they are required by law to
graduate with their class. So, right now, there is nothing that the
teachers can do to discipline students who behave like this because their
hands are legally tied.
I have witnessed the students in question get into shouting matches with
the teachers and the principal, and I have also seen their total disregard
and even contempt for any authority. However, what I was witness to today
makes all of the above pale in comparison. That is a strong statement, but
it is true.
Just after school lunch, at approximately 1:15pm, about five or six of
these students came into the teachers' room and sat down on four padded
chairs, which are often used for meetings (all students have free access to
the teachers' room, by the way, so this in itself was not unusual). They
proceeded to make their presence known by talking loudly to each other and
to the teachers. Some of the male teachers, maybe four of them, gathered
around and started talking to them. I could not understand what was said,
but I understood the gist of the conversation to be that the teachers
wanted the students to leave the room, and the students refused.
After 5-10 minutes of this, one the students stood up and started shouting,
and one the teachers responded in kind. The student in question is about
six feet tall, 250 pounds. This is a big kid, far bigger than any of the
teachers (except me). So, when the student stepped up to the teacher with
whom he was arguing and bumped him with his chest, the teacher stumbled
backwards. The teacher, growing increasingly angry, pushed back, and the
two started grabbing each others' wrists and pushing harder. About two
minutes into this, all of the students (5 or 6) and about 6 or 7 male
teachers were standing around the two of them, some trying to get in
between, and most shouting loudly. I was sitting at my desk about 12 feet
away.
Suddenly, the big student reared back and hit the teacher with whom he was
grappling on the side of his head and face with an open hand, knocking the
teacher's glasses off and sparking a fight. Two other teachers immediately
tried to grab the big kid, but the other students were right there, and
went after the other teachers. It became very confused after this, with
everyone trying to restrain, or simply hold onto, everyone else. There are
three moments, however, which stand out in my mind. First, one of the
other students grabbed the first teacher around the neck and put him in a
one-armed headlock. Second, another student picked up one of the padded
chairs and threw it at the group of fighters, hitting the first teacher in
the head but doing no apparent damage. And third, a few minutes later I
saw the first teacher, while being restrained by another teacher, reach out
and slap the big student on the face.
Of course, by this time all of the male teachers, as well as the principal
and vice principal, were involved. However, this school is fairly small,
and there were only about 7 or 8 male teachers. They could not restrain
the students, and there was still a lot of pushing, pulling, and shouting.
At this point, about 15 minutes after the students first entered the room,
I packed my bag, got my coat and left. It was the most difficult decision
I have ever had to make, because by this time my own adrenalin was flowing,
and I wanted to help the teachers. However, I felt that it was not my
place to interfere. In effect, it was not my problem. I do not know how
it ended, but I had seen enough.
I immediately went to the offices of the board of education, where I go
during non school days, and informed by supervisor. I then sat down with
the head of the board of education for an hour and went over the even with
a fine-toothed comb. I informed them that I will not return to XYZ
Junior High School until next school year, if ever (the school year ends at
the end of March, by the way). I teach at three other schools, so this
does not affect my schedule as much as it might. However, I feel very
strongly about this -- I WILL NOT go back until the student are under
control. I will not put myself into a position where I have to make a
similar decision if I can prevent it. If I do return, it will only be on
the condition that if i feel such a situation could happen again I will
terminate my visits.
It is not my job to enforce discipline -- the JET program is very explicit
about that. If it was part of my job, I would not have left the school that
day. However, I am a kind of guest at these schools, and discipline
problems on this scale are the beyond the scope of my responsibilities.
This incident happened on Monday, and on Wednesday I wrote a statement, had
it translated, and gave it the board of education detailing my position.
Sorry this email is so long, but it is pretty short and I have included it
below.
1 Safety
I do not want to work in an environment in which my safety or the safety of
others is threatened.
2 Attention
By my not visiting a particular school, maybe more people will take notice
and become aware of how bad the situation really is. The more people know,
the more likely it is that a solution will be found. If the problems are
hidden, then a solution is less likely.
3 Responsibility
I think that the school and the board of education are responsible for the
enforcement of discipline in the schools. Of course, I can help with small
problems that occur during class, but the incident that I witnessed is far
more serious than that.
4 Long Term Effects
This problem will not go away when these students graduate later this
month. Already, some of the second grade (eighth grade) students have
begun to behave similarly. If this is simply ignored, or if a solution is
not found, the problems will continue. They will not just go away by
themselves.
5 I want to help
I will do everything I can to help, but I will not pretend that nothing
happened. If I am told that part of my job is to enforce discipline, then
I will attempt to do so, but I will use American methods because that is
what I know. That would start with barring disruptive students from the
classroom. I realize that this is not allowed in Japan, but I won't be
able to teach properly if these students are allowed to interrupt the class
freely and without punishment.
If I can think of possible solutions, I will certainly suggest them.
Clearly, this is not an easy problem to solve. I think it will involve
institutional change, some of which might be difficult and painful.
I really do want to help. I want to be a part of the solution. However,
if i return to the classroom and pretend that nothing is wrong, I will
become a part of the problem. We all need to recognize and admit that
there is a problem. That is the first step towards solving it.
So far, the response from the board of education has been exactly nil.
They have not yet given me their "official decision" as to whether they
will send me back to XYZ Junior High School, a fact which I consider a
little funny considering that that is my decision to make, not theirs. In
fact, they haven't told me anything, not even their opinions of the fight.
They have basically given me the cold shoulder, claiming that they are too
busy for THREE CONSECUTIVE DAYS to meet with me for TWENTY MINUTES. That,
of course, is a load of bullshit, but there is nothing I can do about it.
Today (Thursday) and tomorrow and I teaching at a different school, so at
least I am not in the office right in front of them as a constant reminder
of the situation. Hopefully, when I return to the office on Monday we will
have a meaningful discussion, but I am not counting on it.
The issue, in fact, will probably not be discussed again until the end of
the month when we have to schedule the school visits for next year. I have
a hunch that they are assuming I will have softened my stance by then. I
assure you, they are wrong. I very seriously doubt whether my job is at
stake over this, but to me it doesn't matter. I have been here long enough
to know that I can easily find another teaching job if I want to stay in
Japan for another year. I think that that is an extremely remote
possibility, but I just wanted you to understand my situation.
I will certainly keep you informed of any new developments, and I am
certain I left something out, so don't hesitate to ask questions.
Sorry for the business-like tone, but I wanted to get through everything.
Thoughts/advice/support are always greatly appreciated.
I hope you had a less exciting week than I did.
--Rafi
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