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Ohoka Junior High School |
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Ohoka Junior High School is one of the larger schools in the Numazu school sysem.It offers many contasts to Shizuura, which is one of the smallest schools. It is tucked down in a residental area. In the morning students walk the half mile road to the front entrance. Like all schools, I have been at, it has a garden, small pond and a commemorative statue. Each morning a different student feeds the koi in the pond and others water plants. Ohoka (traditionally spelled Ooka, but changed to OH-o-ka so that people pronounce each "O" seperately, is unique in my experience. All the third grade English and math classes are split into smaller groups. Rather than having the typical class of 34-38 students, Ohoka has these classes of 14-18 students. The teachers are convinced that the smaller class sizes allows for more individual attention to the students. Beside the normal conversational English classses, Ohoka also offers an additional English writing class, more like our basic composition class. Both the principal, Mr Sasayama, and vice principal were English teachers. Mr. Ishii, the vice principal, is also the chairman of the Numazu junior high English program I have enjoyed many conversations with these men. |
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Feeding koi is the students' responsibility. |
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It's a long walk up the road to school. But each day a teacher is at the gate to welcome the students. All are welcomed with an English "good morning; or Japanese "Ohayo gozaimasu." Students seem happy to be at school. |
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All schools have student "cubby holes" for their street shoes, unbrellas and athletic gear. There are no lockers for security, but no one steals. Also notice the Japanese style of hanging pictures and awards on an angle so that they can be viewed more easily. |
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This is one of the split 3rd grade classes. They laugh and have a good time during English lessons. They enjoy my simple magic too. But I don't tell any jokes. |
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These four ladies are the Ohoka English teachers.They are Ms. Shabati (above), Ms. Sumi (in blue), Ms Inagi (in black), and Ms. Kimura (in white). They are excellent teachers who care about students. |
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At Ohoka, the girls student dress is a black navy look and black high button coats and white shirts for boys. The running suit is the best looking one of all the schools. It is blue and white with red bands on the sleeves. The black shorts and Ohaka tees are the most common attire now that it is hot (below). |
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The main office is the hub of daily activity with three secretaries working. |
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Ohoka has the biggest and best stocked school store. Students can buy paper, pen and drawing supplies plus approved clothes and shoes. |
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Music is important in all schools. Here, at Ohoka, the students can learn to play the guitar, piano or even accordians. All students sing in class choruses as well. |
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All sports competitive seasons begin in May and continue through August with prefecture (state) championships.These sports include basketball, volleyball, kendo, gymnastics, table tennis, soccer,soft tennis, baseball, softball, and for some schools badmitton, wrestling,and judo. Ohoka is very successful in baseball and in both boys and girls softball teams. The girls also set up their own batting cages. All this is done without any adult supervision. Pactice is repeated the same every morning, at lunch and after school with a team leader calling out the next skill session. Most skills are repeated 20 times and they strat a new skill. |
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All students are required to take a Kanji calligraphy class. They work at holding the brush correctly, making proper strokes and how much ink to use. Each student brings his own black felt, brush, india ink, ink tray and paper weight bar. Very Impressive workmanship by them. |
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