Still Waters
Posted Jul 9 2007
Schools and Youth
Is their disparity in the quality of the schools?
Yes. You’ve seen part of that at Ogaki Kita High School. It’s very prestigious—one of Japan’s best, with excellent teachers. The principal explains that the top 10% of local junior high students are eligible to go there. In Ogaki, all junior highs are public.
Even in public schools there are disparities, although there shouldn’t be. Some districts are better than others. Here, 
parents are very active with education. In other areas, many parents are too busy with work to be very involved with PTA or other activities. Some schools have less-qualified teachers. There’s a pretty big disparity between high schools, which are not compulsory. Some schools get a reputation for sending their graduates to good universities. I believe in the past things were more equal but schools develop a reputation. Maybe a group of teachers work hard to establish their own identity or they focus on English education. It’s like a pile of snow. The disparities gradually pile up and grow. I don’t think we can do anything about it unless the prefecture gets involved and does some reforms such as new ways of evaluating students. It’s hard for me to discuss specifics as I don’t work directly in education.
I think Japan is becoming a society of disparity compared to 20-30 years ago. I graduated from high school twenty years ago. Most of my elementary classmates, 90% moved up. In high school, most went to college. Very few worked instead. It’s my impression that a certain level of quality was maintained at all public schools. The overall level of education in Ogaki is good. Because of disparity of high school education, parents send kids to cram schools. But students from families who can’t afford cram schools end up leaving school earlier. Of course scholarships exist, but rich families have advantages.
What are some of the problems faced by youth?
They’re affected by the ideas of their parents. Personal responsibility is bigger than before because Japanese government is not really supporting the fundamental right to live. They’re cutting welfare for children, single parents, and education. The government is not protecting the youth. Parents, even when driven, have limited power due to the cutbacks. The children are losing opportunities to reach their potential as their opportunities are limited by the family budget.
There’s an increase in mental problems as there’s less 
sense of community; less ties to extended family and neighbors. Social skills are deteriorating. Many children are refusing to go to school and there’s more defiance. There’s a new phenomenon called hikikomori, which means like "a closed shellfish."
Kids are withdrawn. It’s increasing, but I’m not 100% sure why. When I was younger, it was easier to play with other kids. Now days, kids are in cram schools, don’t live with grandparents, and play video games, especially violent games. Press one button, you can kill 10 people. Plus, mobile phones and text messaging are everywhere. Adults know how to communicate face to face.
Many youth are surrounded by these tools, are losing direct communication skills. My own kids say "bye" to friends and not even a few minutes later they’re texting the same friend. They’re not even expressing their true selves. They text what’s popular. Are they saying what they really want to say? Another thing is that they’re losing vocabulary from texting all of the time.
Brazilians in Japan! That has got to be the most interesting thing I've learned about Ogaki. I never heard of it before until I read this article. But this is so interesting, I didn't know it was so hard to blend in a group of people into society. I mean I see what happens when some spanish speakers can't read a sign. But they take it to the next level. People over there can actually go to the city for help. What is this? No need for marches just to get help and basic rights. The info about students who commit suicide because they feel to pressured by parents can be considered here too. I mean the SAT suicides, and other problems. But I think it's because Japan also seems like they have a very anal system. Live by the book, die by the book. That sort of thing needs to be taken care of with more liberal power. less conservativeness means more change and growth. I think the Japanese need to be with therir school system as they are with their building designs, freeflowing.
Like i said before before i had different thoughts about japan. But after reading this interview and remembering that i had a class of japan in summer school last year. It seems that over there things are some the same as the united states but witha different that the rules of immigration are differently. I think that is fair what the rules of immigration they have with the immigrants. Because they help them succed and become someone in life. Not like in here in the united states they discriminated the immigranst or judge them because of who they are or just because they are latin and or because they speak spanish. I think that that's what the government in thge us should do. I agree that if they have done penalties than they have a reason to send them back to their birth place. But if they just come to work and have a better life its find. And its niced that people over there can help everytime they need help even on the streets.That's why my thughts have change about Japan i would like to visit one time.
Its interesting to see the differences between the U.S. and Japan. Over there they help out immigrants and here all people want to do is send them back. From what the lady mentioned it isn't all good but its like that in every country with immigrants. The mentioning of the Chinese Immigrants girls reminds me of the human trafficking situation. Its similar how the girls go to different countries with dreams of making money in a legit way and end up working as hookers and other things they never thought they would be doing.
I ran into this one looking at the curriculum page. Once again you've inspired me not to hesitate on curiosity since this is how this interview came to be. This interview also provided me with a place to go when I go to Japan. As for the Brazilians in Japan, I don't think I would prefer it if the US was more open with immigration but treated the immigrants as Brazilians are treated in Japan. In the curriculum piece, you said many students based their opinion on Japan based on one interview. I think the main reason that happened was because the lady interviewed seemed to know what she was talking about. According to the interview, the Brazilians are barely starting to move together to form the "salad bowl" pattern and retain part of their culture. I find it pretty interesting because it is like hearing about Mexican immigration in Oakland, but in slow motion. I hope that more people in Ogaki think like her because I like her dedication to integrate Brazilians into Japan. I just wish more people ion the US were like her (not to lose culture but to integrate communities). I real,ly like to hear that the government there is helping Brazilians by offering services in Portuguese as well. I am not happy, however, that many Brazilians are dropping out but it is to be expected when many immigrants come to a country, they can't all succeed. I really dislike hearing that Chinese girls are still being taken advantage of, on a worldwide basis! As she said the abused workers can be hard to find, especially since they rarely come out in the open. Many people must feel as frustrated and powerless as I do when I hear about this. Whew... This interview went IN DEPTH!!! I can't finish reading it right now but I promise I will get back to it (it is too good to miss) Thank you very much for doing this interview, you have amped up a voice that may have otherwise gone unheard.