My main concern with this system is that it doesn't allow for sensei specialization. Why on earth is a 3rd grade math teacher moving to the elementary school to teach shogakko 3rd graders? If teachers aren't specializing where they are skilled, they can't sharpen their abilities as efficiently and can't provide the best education. I feel like this almost makes a mockery of education, as if students don't deserve the best in whatever field they are learning. There is a huge difference between teaching 1st graders (shogakko), 6th graders and 2nd graders (chugakko). We all know that there is such a different atmosphere in teaching the various grades, we have our preferences. Shouldn't a teacher be able to teach where they enjoy, usually the place that they are the most comfortable and naturally, the best?

Teachers might appear genki as they "fight" their way through the first months of transition, but I've wondered what their true thoughts on moving around so often are. I asked my new English teacher how most felt. She's generally quite honest with me and told me that indeed it's difficult. Just like starting any new job, it takes awhile to learn the ropes and get a feel for the atmosphere. Building relationships with new co-workers and students is a slow process. She said the difficult part is that new teachers aren't told specifically what to do, but instructed to ask questions should they have them. This is a problem since the new teachers, with however much experience they may have, don't always know which questions to ask in the first place. (So the AET is not the only one who feels this lack of direction?) I also sent a text message to my teacher who moved asking her how she was adjusting. She said she was "fine and lonely." Unless a particular teacher enjoys that constant challenge to adapt to new circumstances, I don't think Japanese teachers react so differently to how we would at continual upheaval.