Tid Bits from School

There are no noticeable eating disorders at my school. Not even the skinniest or most rebellious students have an eating disorder. I think that was a problem at my school when I was in Junior High, so I've noticed its absence. I don't why that is exactly, but there must be something great about the way things are done here. I think it's permissable to be extremely thin: many of the students are skinny. In fact, most are skinny. In fact, the Japanese have a very strict body image (average-sized Americans are obese in Japan), yet I haven't seen or heard of eating disorders. Everyone is required to eat all of their huge school lunch, so maybe that has something to do with it.

At school, I normally help serve school lunch and I've learned something kind of strange from that experience. There are different washcloths for everything! For kitchen surfaces, for dining tables, for washing dishes, for drying dishes, for drying lunch trays, for wiping of the lunch cart, and for wiping the floor. They're all different and if you confuse one with the other, you can be sure that someone will take notice. :)

There aren't any substitutes at Japanese schools! In a way, I'm sure it's a cost-cutting measure, and pretty effective. On the other hand, it's just crazy! This week there were teachers gone for seminars, teachers at a student track event, students anywhere but school. So the other teachers just taught all day and combined classes and it is just madness. I want to teach in America someday, but this may be one experience I decide not to share with my administration. ;)

I recently watched a report from CNN (thank you, Pater) about teachers in Japan. It made me think of the conception I had of Japanese teachers before I came and how it changed afterward. I think the role of a teacher is different in America and Japan. Teaching is really demanding in both countries, but possibly more so in Japan. There are just enough teachers in a school, no extra, so everyone is busy all the time. Also, teachers are in charge of clubs, teams, student organizations, there are teacher meetings ALL THE TIME, and generally the class sizes are bigger (lots of grading!) But it is just the expectation of Japanese people that teachers should be fully committed to their work. I think it has its positive and negative points. Anyway, I love being called Shelby sensei all the time. It makes me feel like I'm a teacher from karate kid.

Some student stories: A funny one first. I work at a Junior High School, so as you might assume, it can be a challenge for students to keep their eyelids open, especially in the mornings. (I know the feeling! It's really embarassing to doze when you're a teacher!!) First period starts at 8:55 and the other day I was walking along with two other teachers. On our way, we walked by an empty classroom...only it wasn't empty. There was one student asleep at their desk. I pointed them out and the other teacher started laughing. Everyone else had gone to P.E. and left their classmate to nap.

Another funny memory: I asked one of my students at the end of class, "Did you understand?" She looked at me, stuttered a bit and paused... then bent her knees and stood half way up.

Another story is about one of my favorite students. It's hard to have a fave, but he ranks near the top. He's ALWAYS smiling. That is, when he's not sleeping. I think he has a hard time learning, so rather than struggle along, he gets his beauty sleep. :) Anyway, if someone helps him he's always willing to give it a go. So during class I knelt by his desk. The students were translating English to Japanese, and since my Japanese is terrible we were in the same boat! We worked together though, and in ten minutes we had 5 or 6 sentences translated! I felt good about it, and I think he did too. When I stood up at the bell, he looked at me and said "Thank you." Not arigatou, but thank you. It made me glow. I think he learned something, but if nothing else, it was fun for both of us.