Recently I was reading an article about how teachers/coaches of the sports clubs in junior high (or I guess school in general) can get very strict. Students commit suicide over it. The article calls it 指導æ». Literally, guidance death.
The article highlighted one incident at an all girl’s high school kendo club. The teacher would scold her in front of her teammates, and she even was pushed down and beaten (?) by the teacher. Another incident in the article was about a junior high school boy. He brought a snack to school, and the teacher scolded him. I can’t remember but I think the teacher continued to scold him the next day up to an hour! In both cases the students committed suicide.
The article focuses on a father who is now a speaker against this kind of stuff. He suggests the schools should be held responsible and there should be an anonymous system set into place where people can have a safe space to notify others about this.
It just boggles my mind why these teachers aren’t fired or nothing is every done even when other people are around watching. I talked to a few coworkers about my view and some said, “Well, kids are very VERY sensitive today. It’s hard to give guidance. What might seem not bad to you might be for the student?” But the students in the article we being berated, and bullied by an adult. I think it’s very different from students just being overly sensitive.
2 comments
> The article focuses on a father who is now a speaker against this kind of stuff. He suggests the schools should be held responsible and there should be an anonymous system set into place where people can have a safe space to notify others about this.
huh? I thought there is such a system . The thing is japanese kids don’t think of telling anyone and parents ignore it
Let’s start by saying that causing deliberate suffering of any person (student) at the hands of anyone in authority over that person is fucked.
Let’s continue: this is a serious problem yet it is also complex and it is also blown out of proportion, exaggerated to some extent to fill an English language reporting/journalism niche about Japan.
Although we may skirt the dangerous, churning waters of “whataboutism”, perhaps it is useful to cock a diagonal eye or two on the US which has unfathomably deep problems at the intersection of education/sport/authority. Not only are head injuries, concussions considered an integral part or the national pastime, they are also allowed to continue. The education system is effectively allowing schools and colleges to contribute to a brain damaged population.
But to come back to the main target without straying too far away, it is also true that especially in rural areas, sports based “recreation” activities are funded by old boys clubs, churches, local/state government etc. This places massive pressures on children, parents and communities whether they are directly involved or not. Indeed, there is NO option to not be involved. as a member of the community your are expected and obligated to attend/support, etc.
This is a common feature of sporting “clubs” for children across the US and also results in suicides, bullying and the perpetuation of specific kinds of abuses of authority. It is endemic.
In other words: the convergence of forced physical competition in educational contexts wherein responsibility = top down/one way authority + domination is a highly problematic situation. This problematic situation is increasingly recognized and schools/administrations are working to alleviate some of the problems, however, there is also significant pushback from older generations for whom physical punishment as critical to “win at all costs” – ie “our tradition”.
Which is to say, physical activity and sports constitute an important part of the schooling experience for children but just as with teaching and behavioral management, some schools and some teachers are better trained/better people/better supported than others.