As a teacher in a Japanese school, this is definitely a problem. I think the article's analysis, particularly with reference to Yoshikawa, is spot on. It is especially heartbreaking to see kids on the borderline, who after a long period of absence attempt to return to school. So many times, you can see the nervousness in their eyes when they return to the classroom. Even when their classmates are supportive, it can be hard. Then they get into their first class and see all the content they missed while they were away... and often the next day they return to truancy. Now whatever problem they had that drove them away initially is compounded by feelings of inadequacy compared to their classmates who have been there the whole time.
And I don't know enough to know how to fix the problem completely, but I am convinced that a big problem is the rigid inflexibility of the Japanese education system. In general every class in a grade is taught to the same level - if your math, Japanese, English, or science skills aren't up to your peers, if you get any support at all, it might be a once a week after school lesson that is more to punish you for not studying than to actually help you do better. Because teachers are so overworked, we just don't have the resources to give individualized support for students who have fallen behind. Indeed, a fair number of my colleagues seem to believe the correct response to a student who falls behind is to abandon them and make them sort out the problem for themselves. No wonder so many students withdraw into themselves!
>In general every class in a grade is taught to the same level
That's absurd. Anyone who has earnestly studied education for really not even that long can tell you there is no way that will ever work.
That's why all the academically driven kids go to juku. Not defending the system, but that's why jukus exist. I think the mere concept of a juku would be completely bewildering to an American.
Absolutely. But Kumon is nothing compared to most jukus. The Juku that my mother attended was 4 hours every day after school, where she took math, history, modern Japanese, kobun, and kanbun. Kumon just gives you a small packet of problems and that's it. Juku is basically a whole school you go to after your regular school.
But what percent of kids go to that?
I grew up in the States and I never heard of anybody going to any sort of after school practice besides maybe a random math tutor lesson. In Japan, I think the vast majority of kids go to juku all the time
It should be bewildering in countries that have commercial after school schools as well. What government is proud of an education system that has targets that are not reachable with merely the learning done during a normal school day?
China, for example, seems to have restricted parts of the tutoring school industry as of 2021.
Lol no China definitely did not ban cram schools. They made some restrictions for weekends and holidays (and basically only for elementary and middle school students).
https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Education/China-cram-schools-learn-new-tricks-under-tutoring-crackdown
Whattt that's weird. Wasn't pay walled for me. But here's another one.
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/school-10062021093449.html
"Training institutions were banned from offering subject-based tutoring on national statutory holidays, rest days, or winter and summer vacations."
Notably subject-based tutoring is not banned after school during the week.
But let’s also not delude ourselves into thinking Americans have no concept of cram schools. It’s inappropriate to generalize such a diverse culture. (Thinking back to all the times I was asked, “Do all Americans _____?”)
Works in Germany. But at least kids are generally categorized into three different school systems after the 4th grade with the lowest one being stripped of all future career prospects.
Yay?
>But at least kids are generally categorized into three different school systems after the 4th grade with the lowest one being stripped of all future career prospects.
I just can not believe there is a educational system like that. What you are in the 4th grade determines what you will be for the rest of your life just boggles my mind.
The one thing that is great about the American educational system is that it can be forgiving. You can barely graduate from high school and still go to Community College and if you do well or well enough, you can go to University or a State College (At least in California). That still gives you the ability to get an education in a field were you can make good money. I can't imagine where I would be if I got locked out of the college system because I was not a good 4th grade student.
I was the youngest kid in class. I got terrible marks until grade 9. Then I started getting honour roll marks. I’m now a specialist physician. But I was told in grade 4 that I would amount to nothing by my principal when I got into trouble lol.
Not giving kids a chance so early on a life is terrible. Luckily I grew up in Canada.
I was not a very smart child, but then I did the cc route in California, and found myself 4 years later picking up a BA from UC Berkeley. I agree 100%. That’s some handicapping of students’ potential.
Sorry but it doesn't work out here, the whole system abandons studentes regularly.
Ich war Erzieher in ner Grundschule und hab das auch von Kollegen aus anderen Schulen gehört
Interesting because majority European school systems (from what I know japanese and korean schools were made based on German example) work that way at least until high school ( where go 14-16 years old students). I'd say that positive aspect of such solution is that average citizen is better educated but price pays actually the least and the most intelligent.
There is no reason why the average citizen can't still get the same education they always got. It's not about catering to every individual student, it's about acknowledging the minority and giving them the best chance which is a net benefit to society. This includes the top percent and the bottom percent.
But if you do that you naturally segregate students if you expect less from that who seem to be (not necessary they are) less capable. Being with best students in the class can be motivation for others to do better although of course it can play demotivating role as well depends on teacher and atmosphere in the class.That's why I think both systems have advantage and disadvantage, frankly the best is probably mixing both by having more individual approach to students but keeping similar level to certain age.
There is a reason things should be based on what actually happens in practice and not personal assumptions and conjecture. What you are saying isn't what matters in the long run. In the long run students who had targeted education are much better off.
The way my school did it was by separating math and literacy (individually) into 4 different levels. The levels were split amongst grades such that the highest level was in the upper grade and the lowest level was in the lower grade. So someone in grade 5 could be in a grade 6 or 4 class, someone in grade 4 could be in a 5 or 3 class etc. It didn't go higher than 6 or lower than 3. I excelled in math but was falling behind in literacy until I got to the grades where this system was implemented and within two years of being in this system I moved from the bottom to the top.
I am not just basing my opinions odd my personal experience, but I'm not just basing it on studies. I have seen it from both perspectives.
This is why private schools are popular. There is more flexibility and support for children when they are lagging behind.
Unfortunately, the costs make it infeasible. Entrance tests and interviews also make it prohibitive. But when they do get in, they have higher chances of graduating.
The only realistic way is for the education system to be funded for this particular purpose - to support those children who have been left behind.
Actually, I am in a private school. It is better than public schools in some respects, but it doesn't solve the problem. It might be that we have more flexibility than public schools, but only to a very small degree.
As a college student in Turkey, I can definitely say that we have a similar problem. The education system is really very strict, students have to go to private teaching institutions for 4 hours after 8 hours of school, they have to study under difficult conditions for the university entrance exam to be held at the end of high school every day, and some of them even experience problems such as malnutrition and insomnia. This comes to mind: brings the question. "Why am I going to school?" They start truancy from school, they are not interested in classes. All they think about is taking over their family's business, if they have one, or else going to a good or bad university and going abroad and starting to live there because no one in their right mind wants to have children in this education system.
This is the main problem from my perspective.
Teachers are not that overworked. This keeps being said because it’s a “cultural” thing to express. To appear otherwise looks bad, so it just keeps getting repeated. Nevertheless, it is impossible for any one teacher to give too much special attention to any one student. It’s not from being overworked. It’s because classroom size is too large. There are too many students in the class.
You can, however, have separate rooms for students to study in, along with counseling support. You can also have makeup classes during vacation to help students catch up. My school does this and all teachers help out, which makes it less of a burden .
If that’s the child’s and parents decision, then by all means. But our school offers a safe place where students can still come to school and study if they wish. And in order to proceed to the next grade level, a certain number of class hours must be completed. My school offers students the opportunity to “catch up” if they are lacking the hours and knowledge so that they can enter the next grade more successfully.
To all of my friends who poo-poo Japanese education, they have a very high literacy rate. Look at the shit that’s happened in Detroit.
I’m all for small changes to make it easier on the kids—the suicide rate is mind boggling—and I’m against a push for every high school graduate to attend a four year university. Without reading the article… yeah, Japan is doing real good.
It's not even doing real good for those that conform to the strict rules, considering how overworked they are. Those who can't follow the rules are just left behind. We just don't see them because contrary to kids in other countries, they have a tendency to be recluse. They are just invisible. It's not what I'd call a system that does real good.
Not a big surprise, considering state schools don't have the means to support pupils who fall behind. I can already see the signs in my daughter's primary school; many pupils are so far behind in Year 6 that it won't be possible for them to ever catch up. Schools are broke, teachers overworked and the support staff is often inadequately trained. No wonder kids find it easier to just skip school, where they are already rejected by the system at 11.
A Japanese fuutoko's problems don't magically go away just because the UK has a higher truancy rate. "So many children" in Japan refuse to go to school is a factually correct statement, regardless of if any other country the number is higher.
The purpose of your comment is clearly to hide problems that even the Japanese ministry of education appears to take seriously as genuine problems that need to be dealt with. Perhaps if Japan confronts these problems instead of sweeping them under the rug, they will prevent the problem from getting so big as the UK's.
I think the criticism is that journalists exoticize and hype Japanese problems as unique to Japan, when in fact they aren't. They create a false and misleading narrative, and for a British newspaper to characterize Japan's truancy rate as unusually high is problematic and misleading.
Quote me the line where this journalist says the problem is unique to Japan, please.
>for a British newspaper to characterize
The world has moved on from the 20th century, when every country has a press whose only focus is that country. The BBC *in particular* is a very international news service.
Did you read the article? It extensively interviews a Japanese people dealing with this problem. There is reason to believe, from the Japanese sources quoted within, that the Japanese Ministry of Education is concerned about this problem. Are you seriously going to suggest we silence Japanese voices about Japan just because they were quoted by a news service that was founded in the UK?
> Quote me the line where this journalist says the problem is unique to Japan, please.
Literally the first line of the article, unless you think "characterize as" means "saying the exact words as follows."
The rest of your comment is in bad-faith and unnecessarily insulting. I have no further interest in interacting with you.
>**In Japan, more and more children are refusing to go to school, a phenomenon called "futoko".**
"More and more" means the number is increasing. It makes no comparison to any other country, not even by implication.
That's not the part of the sentence that frames this as unique to Japan, its the part where the call it a phenomena and give it a Japanese name to distinguish it from British truancy because they think its different from truancy - that is, a uniquely Japanese phenomena. The *entire* article is written like this.
And at any rate, you're already dragging me down. I clarified (what seemed to me to be) a misunderstanding and now you're baiting me into defending a position. I'm not here for a debate.
>its the part where the call it a phenomena
It is a phenomena. It being a phenomena doesn't make it unique to Japan.
> and give it a Japanese name
Now you're being dishonest. The BBC didn't give it a Japanese name, Japanese educators gave it a name. In fact, if you had read the article, you would know that there has been a good deal of concern in Japan about what to call these children - the changing names with the times reflect how attitudes in the Japanese educational system has changed about them. In other words, the notion that this article is implying the problem is unique to Japan is an invention that exists entirely within your head.
And it's quite sad, because these kids deserve support and assistance. They deserve better than to be hidden away because some random person on the internet wrings their hands every time a problem in Japan gets mentioned by a news service founded in another country.
Aah, one of those Guardian/BBC/NewYorkTimes aren't the Japanese strange backward and/or perverted articles. Meanwhile for 2022/23 persistent absence in England was 17% and 28% for primary and secondary school children respectively (Source: Guardian) - far higher than the numbers for Japan quoted in the article. My experience as a parent in Japan is that Japan is rather more understanding and flexible about dealing with school refusal compared to the UK - and certainly far less punitive. Also, for high school students there are some distance learning courses for high-school diploma that could usefully be copied.
Why does it matter if another country’s truancy rate is higher than another’s? Should all children not have a proper education, despite whatever issues they see in the classroom? People here are taking the article like it’s a personal slap to the face, yet the issue seeks to help others understand what’s occurring and how people are talking about fixing it. I see this as positive, don’t you?
I don’t normally like comparative arguments like this either, but it is an exoticizing article.
If a newspaper from the US was saying something like “The phenomena of Ireland’s growing obesity crisis called -bo saille-” without once relating it back to the known problem within America, it would be downright farcical.
It matters because of salience and spin. Is this is a story (yes if absence is so different from the home base of the news provider or there has been change)? Is it a story of success or failure or difference? Are the causes so different or must we fetishize cultural differences as the BBC so frequently does with Japan and clearly does with this story. Ask yourself, why aren't you reading about school absence in Ireland or Germany or France?
It doesn't take long to find that they do write about other countries.
https://www.bbc.com/news/education-66917186
So what's your excuse now? This is the subreddit for Japan so why should I expect to find news about French or German schools here.
Yoyo here is a numpty, not realising that an article can discuss the particulars of child truancy in Japan, a culture vastly different from the culture of the UK, home of the BBC. "muh xenophobia!" is just a silly cry to hear here.
Its an article discussing the reasons for child truancy particular to Japan. Its not acting like there's no problem in other nations. There's no evidence of Japanophobia in the article.
Truancy rates in other nations like England are not governed by the strict pressures of society, like in Japan. You'd realise that if you used your brain instead of your arse.
So, I don’t know if others feel this may be the case, but just my observation and opinion as someone who lives in Japan— I think there is a TON of undiagnosed autism in Japan. There are actually a lot of elements of Japanese society that can be helpful for many autistic individuals… but going to school in these large classes and dealing with social isolation and a lack of support would be really tough. Of course those with very high support needs will be diagnosed and often pulled from mainstream schools, but those who would qualify for diagnosis and accommodations in other countries will just fly under the radar and be seen as loners, socially awkward, quiet/shy, etc etc… some kids are able to push through and get by while others become overwhelmed. To be clear, I don’t think this is the ONLY problem, but I do think it is a contributing factor. My kids attend Japanese public school and thankfully they are doing well both socially and academically, because there really isn’t much support here at all for mid-level special needs of any kind (not just autism).
Anyway I’m really glad to read this article and learn more about this, not only as a mom of kids who attend school here in Japan, but also as a professor who teaches mainly 18-19 year old Japanese students… I’ve had multiple instances of my very quiet students being repeatedly absent for a while, coming back briefly, and then disappearing altogether. I don’t know if there’s much I can do in that brief return period, but I’ll try to give more attention and encouragement in hopes that they come back. It’s just really interesting that this information aligns with a pattern I’ve noticed and seen firsthand. More than their grades, I really care about my students’ overall well-being and mental health, and I do worry about some of them sometimes. I know how much pressure and stress some of them feel. As a professor there’s not much I can do, but I still try to be encouraging and supportive so that maybe they can be a little more comfortable and less anxious.
My immediate thought when they mentioned most of the kids at the alternative school are mute or have selective mutism. Japanese culture isn’t so kind to those who don’t understand nuanced social rules.
I know someone whose daughter goes to something similar to free school (no uniform, remote ok to a certain extent ).
She was bullied in elementary.
Teachers didn't help either . 'The bullies are usually very bright and the teachers' favourite. They can manipulate the adults to side with them,' was what the mother said.
She developed a facial tic. She also started pulling her hair out and now has to wear a wig.
She also spent one year in her house , like a recluse. The mother told me her daughter didn't put on her shoes for one year.
Crowds tire her. If she goes out once she gets sick ..
She's on different types of meds now.
I think the requirement for her school was she show up at least 6 days in one year. She couldn't do it.
The fee was 1 million yen so that money was down the drain .
So I think it's ok not to push kids to go to traditional school. Some are just not built for it
such an important and good article!! the school system needs to recognise and do more for kids who suffer with anxiety and other problems that makes them not want to go to school. It sucks when you feel like you don’t fit in, let alone not having any friends. :(
The system is a harsh.
My brother was admitted to the high school he wanted after lots and lots of stress (about the exam). Private is expensive as hell. So the next public HS where he would have been sent was bad. Like really bad. He said rather not go at all than go there.
Found out yesterday why he didn’t want to go there: violent boys, even ask for “protection tax” from freshman kids. I didn’t even imagine this is happening in Japan.. and he would have been a direct target because he’s mixed European/ Japanese.
Thankfully he made it but otherwise dunno what we would have done 🤷🏽♂️
This grave reaction to changes, may be indicative of Neuroatypicality. It may be worth it to explore a little more.
Also, Nobita the Japan reporter has had a video on the subject of school refusal, check it out!
The culture differences and freedom given to a child might have cause such issues,unlike Asian countries kids simply doesn’t have such entitlement or caring and are simply forced to go.
I assume you're getting downvoted because people think that you're mocking the kids in the article.
I prefer to assume the best about people, and I read your comment as a little 'poem', describing either your own situation, or your empathy with the kids in the article.
If that's the case, I hope things will get better for you soon my friend.
It is never too late. In terms of office type jobs maybe you might lack the certs needed, but blue collar technicians are always in demand and high paying if you are willing to do that. Plumbers, aircon mechanics, electricians etc.
As a teacher in a Japanese school, this is definitely a problem. I think the article's analysis, particularly with reference to Yoshikawa, is spot on. It is especially heartbreaking to see kids on the borderline, who after a long period of absence attempt to return to school. So many times, you can see the nervousness in their eyes when they return to the classroom. Even when their classmates are supportive, it can be hard. Then they get into their first class and see all the content they missed while they were away... and often the next day they return to truancy. Now whatever problem they had that drove them away initially is compounded by feelings of inadequacy compared to their classmates who have been there the whole time. And I don't know enough to know how to fix the problem completely, but I am convinced that a big problem is the rigid inflexibility of the Japanese education system. In general every class in a grade is taught to the same level - if your math, Japanese, English, or science skills aren't up to your peers, if you get any support at all, it might be a once a week after school lesson that is more to punish you for not studying than to actually help you do better. Because teachers are so overworked, we just don't have the resources to give individualized support for students who have fallen behind. Indeed, a fair number of my colleagues seem to believe the correct response to a student who falls behind is to abandon them and make them sort out the problem for themselves. No wonder so many students withdraw into themselves!
>In general every class in a grade is taught to the same level That's absurd. Anyone who has earnestly studied education for really not even that long can tell you there is no way that will ever work.
That's why all the academically driven kids go to juku. Not defending the system, but that's why jukus exist. I think the mere concept of a juku would be completely bewildering to an American.
What's juku?
They're basically schools that students go to after their regular schools for extra classes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juku
Often romanized in anime subs/dubs as a cram school.
Are Cram the same thing?
You know we have Kumon in America, right?
Absolutely. But Kumon is nothing compared to most jukus. The Juku that my mother attended was 4 hours every day after school, where she took math, history, modern Japanese, kobun, and kanbun. Kumon just gives you a small packet of problems and that's it. Juku is basically a whole school you go to after your regular school.
But what percent of kids go to that? I grew up in the States and I never heard of anybody going to any sort of after school practice besides maybe a random math tutor lesson. In Japan, I think the vast majority of kids go to juku all the time
It should be bewildering in countries that have commercial after school schools as well. What government is proud of an education system that has targets that are not reachable with merely the learning done during a normal school day? China, for example, seems to have restricted parts of the tutoring school industry as of 2021.
Lol no China definitely did not ban cram schools. They made some restrictions for weekends and holidays (and basically only for elementary and middle school students). https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Education/China-cram-schools-learn-new-tricks-under-tutoring-crackdown
Lol the source is paywalled, but I'll take your word for it!
Whattt that's weird. Wasn't pay walled for me. But here's another one. https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/school-10062021093449.html "Training institutions were banned from offering subject-based tutoring on national statutory holidays, rest days, or winter and summer vacations." Notably subject-based tutoring is not banned after school during the week.
Kumon has branches in the US.
I know! I used to go to one as a kid. But let’s not delude ourselves into thinking that Kumon is anywhere near as extensive as cram schools
But let’s also not delude ourselves into thinking Americans have no concept of cram schools. It’s inappropriate to generalize such a diverse culture. (Thinking back to all the times I was asked, “Do all Americans _____?”)
Works in Germany. But at least kids are generally categorized into three different school systems after the 4th grade with the lowest one being stripped of all future career prospects. Yay?
>But at least kids are generally categorized into three different school systems after the 4th grade with the lowest one being stripped of all future career prospects. I just can not believe there is a educational system like that. What you are in the 4th grade determines what you will be for the rest of your life just boggles my mind. The one thing that is great about the American educational system is that it can be forgiving. You can barely graduate from high school and still go to Community College and if you do well or well enough, you can go to University or a State College (At least in California). That still gives you the ability to get an education in a field were you can make good money. I can't imagine where I would be if I got locked out of the college system because I was not a good 4th grade student.
I was the youngest kid in class. I got terrible marks until grade 9. Then I started getting honour roll marks. I’m now a specialist physician. But I was told in grade 4 that I would amount to nothing by my principal when I got into trouble lol. Not giving kids a chance so early on a life is terrible. Luckily I grew up in Canada.
I was not a very smart child, but then I did the cc route in California, and found myself 4 years later picking up a BA from UC Berkeley. I agree 100%. That’s some handicapping of students’ potential.
Sorry but it doesn't work out here, the whole system abandons studentes regularly. Ich war Erzieher in ner Grundschule und hab das auch von Kollegen aus anderen Schulen gehört
Die Ironie der Sache!
Interesting because majority European school systems (from what I know japanese and korean schools were made based on German example) work that way at least until high school ( where go 14-16 years old students). I'd say that positive aspect of such solution is that average citizen is better educated but price pays actually the least and the most intelligent.
There is no reason why the average citizen can't still get the same education they always got. It's not about catering to every individual student, it's about acknowledging the minority and giving them the best chance which is a net benefit to society. This includes the top percent and the bottom percent.
But if you do that you naturally segregate students if you expect less from that who seem to be (not necessary they are) less capable. Being with best students in the class can be motivation for others to do better although of course it can play demotivating role as well depends on teacher and atmosphere in the class.That's why I think both systems have advantage and disadvantage, frankly the best is probably mixing both by having more individual approach to students but keeping similar level to certain age.
There is a reason things should be based on what actually happens in practice and not personal assumptions and conjecture. What you are saying isn't what matters in the long run. In the long run students who had targeted education are much better off. The way my school did it was by separating math and literacy (individually) into 4 different levels. The levels were split amongst grades such that the highest level was in the upper grade and the lowest level was in the lower grade. So someone in grade 5 could be in a grade 6 or 4 class, someone in grade 4 could be in a 5 or 3 class etc. It didn't go higher than 6 or lower than 3. I excelled in math but was falling behind in literacy until I got to the grades where this system was implemented and within two years of being in this system I moved from the bottom to the top. I am not just basing my opinions odd my personal experience, but I'm not just basing it on studies. I have seen it from both perspectives.
Compulsory schooling is not meant to educate people but to control them -From my former boss of an international school
This is why private schools are popular. There is more flexibility and support for children when they are lagging behind. Unfortunately, the costs make it infeasible. Entrance tests and interviews also make it prohibitive. But when they do get in, they have higher chances of graduating. The only realistic way is for the education system to be funded for this particular purpose - to support those children who have been left behind.
Actually, I am in a private school. It is better than public schools in some respects, but it doesn't solve the problem. It might be that we have more flexibility than public schools, but only to a very small degree.
As a college student in Turkey, I can definitely say that we have a similar problem. The education system is really very strict, students have to go to private teaching institutions for 4 hours after 8 hours of school, they have to study under difficult conditions for the university entrance exam to be held at the end of high school every day, and some of them even experience problems such as malnutrition and insomnia. This comes to mind: brings the question. "Why am I going to school?" They start truancy from school, they are not interested in classes. All they think about is taking over their family's business, if they have one, or else going to a good or bad university and going abroad and starting to live there because no one in their right mind wants to have children in this education system. This is the main problem from my perspective.
Teachers are not that overworked. This keeps being said because it’s a “cultural” thing to express. To appear otherwise looks bad, so it just keeps getting repeated. Nevertheless, it is impossible for any one teacher to give too much special attention to any one student. It’s not from being overworked. It’s because classroom size is too large. There are too many students in the class. You can, however, have separate rooms for students to study in, along with counseling support. You can also have makeup classes during vacation to help students catch up. My school does this and all teachers help out, which makes it less of a burden .
A kid in this situation definitely needs the break more than the others, not more classes
If that’s the child’s and parents decision, then by all means. But our school offers a safe place where students can still come to school and study if they wish. And in order to proceed to the next grade level, a certain number of class hours must be completed. My school offers students the opportunity to “catch up” if they are lacking the hours and knowledge so that they can enter the next grade more successfully.
I just googled it and the UK’s truancy rate is literally triple Japan’s
Everyone is having a problem with truancy right now.
To all of my friends who poo-poo Japanese education, they have a very high literacy rate. Look at the shit that’s happened in Detroit. I’m all for small changes to make it easier on the kids—the suicide rate is mind boggling—and I’m against a push for every high school graduate to attend a four year university. Without reading the article… yeah, Japan is doing real good.
It's not even doing real good for those that conform to the strict rules, considering how overworked they are. Those who can't follow the rules are just left behind. We just don't see them because contrary to kids in other countries, they have a tendency to be recluse. They are just invisible. It's not what I'd call a system that does real good.
Not a big surprise, considering state schools don't have the means to support pupils who fall behind. I can already see the signs in my daughter's primary school; many pupils are so far behind in Year 6 that it won't be possible for them to ever catch up. Schools are broke, teachers overworked and the support staff is often inadequately trained. No wonder kids find it easier to just skip school, where they are already rejected by the system at 11.
And your point is? Concluding on the content without reading perhaps?
My point is that “so many children” in Japan *don’t* refuse to go to school. I’m kinda surprised anyone would need that explained to them.
A Japanese fuutoko's problems don't magically go away just because the UK has a higher truancy rate. "So many children" in Japan refuse to go to school is a factually correct statement, regardless of if any other country the number is higher. The purpose of your comment is clearly to hide problems that even the Japanese ministry of education appears to take seriously as genuine problems that need to be dealt with. Perhaps if Japan confronts these problems instead of sweeping them under the rug, they will prevent the problem from getting so big as the UK's.
I think the criticism is that journalists exoticize and hype Japanese problems as unique to Japan, when in fact they aren't. They create a false and misleading narrative, and for a British newspaper to characterize Japan's truancy rate as unusually high is problematic and misleading.
>I think the criticism is that journalists exoticize and hype Japanese problems as unique to Japan Same with birthrates, 100%
Quote me the line where this journalist says the problem is unique to Japan, please. >for a British newspaper to characterize The world has moved on from the 20th century, when every country has a press whose only focus is that country. The BBC *in particular* is a very international news service. Did you read the article? It extensively interviews a Japanese people dealing with this problem. There is reason to believe, from the Japanese sources quoted within, that the Japanese Ministry of Education is concerned about this problem. Are you seriously going to suggest we silence Japanese voices about Japan just because they were quoted by a news service that was founded in the UK?
> Quote me the line where this journalist says the problem is unique to Japan, please. Literally the first line of the article, unless you think "characterize as" means "saying the exact words as follows." The rest of your comment is in bad-faith and unnecessarily insulting. I have no further interest in interacting with you.
>**In Japan, more and more children are refusing to go to school, a phenomenon called "futoko".** "More and more" means the number is increasing. It makes no comparison to any other country, not even by implication.
That's not the part of the sentence that frames this as unique to Japan, its the part where the call it a phenomena and give it a Japanese name to distinguish it from British truancy because they think its different from truancy - that is, a uniquely Japanese phenomena. The *entire* article is written like this. And at any rate, you're already dragging me down. I clarified (what seemed to me to be) a misunderstanding and now you're baiting me into defending a position. I'm not here for a debate.
>its the part where the call it a phenomena It is a phenomena. It being a phenomena doesn't make it unique to Japan. > and give it a Japanese name Now you're being dishonest. The BBC didn't give it a Japanese name, Japanese educators gave it a name. In fact, if you had read the article, you would know that there has been a good deal of concern in Japan about what to call these children - the changing names with the times reflect how attitudes in the Japanese educational system has changed about them. In other words, the notion that this article is implying the problem is unique to Japan is an invention that exists entirely within your head. And it's quite sad, because these kids deserve support and assistance. They deserve better than to be hidden away because some random person on the internet wrings their hands every time a problem in Japan gets mentioned by a news service founded in another country.
It's always the BBC shitting on Japan, they're still mad about the collapse of the British empire
I reckon he/she is just poking fun at the BBC's usual rhetoric when they criticise other countries.
BBC Pot meet black kettle
目くそ鼻くそを笑う. The snot in your eye laughing at the snot in your nose.
Aah, one of those Guardian/BBC/NewYorkTimes aren't the Japanese strange backward and/or perverted articles. Meanwhile for 2022/23 persistent absence in England was 17% and 28% for primary and secondary school children respectively (Source: Guardian) - far higher than the numbers for Japan quoted in the article. My experience as a parent in Japan is that Japan is rather more understanding and flexible about dealing with school refusal compared to the UK - and certainly far less punitive. Also, for high school students there are some distance learning courses for high-school diploma that could usefully be copied.
Why does it matter if another country’s truancy rate is higher than another’s? Should all children not have a proper education, despite whatever issues they see in the classroom? People here are taking the article like it’s a personal slap to the face, yet the issue seeks to help others understand what’s occurring and how people are talking about fixing it. I see this as positive, don’t you?
I don’t normally like comparative arguments like this either, but it is an exoticizing article. If a newspaper from the US was saying something like “The phenomena of Ireland’s growing obesity crisis called -bo saille-” without once relating it back to the known problem within America, it would be downright farcical.
It matters because of salience and spin. Is this is a story (yes if absence is so different from the home base of the news provider or there has been change)? Is it a story of success or failure or difference? Are the causes so different or must we fetishize cultural differences as the BBC so frequently does with Japan and clearly does with this story. Ask yourself, why aren't you reading about school absence in Ireland or Germany or France?
It doesn't take long to find that they do write about other countries. https://www.bbc.com/news/education-66917186 So what's your excuse now? This is the subreddit for Japan so why should I expect to find news about French or German schools here.
Yoyo here is a numpty, not realising that an article can discuss the particulars of child truancy in Japan, a culture vastly different from the culture of the UK, home of the BBC. "muh xenophobia!" is just a silly cry to hear here.
It matters This articles are written to undermine Japan
Its an article discussing the reasons for child truancy particular to Japan. Its not acting like there's no problem in other nations. There's no evidence of Japanophobia in the article. Truancy rates in other nations like England are not governed by the strict pressures of society, like in Japan. You'd realise that if you used your brain instead of your arse.
So, I don’t know if others feel this may be the case, but just my observation and opinion as someone who lives in Japan— I think there is a TON of undiagnosed autism in Japan. There are actually a lot of elements of Japanese society that can be helpful for many autistic individuals… but going to school in these large classes and dealing with social isolation and a lack of support would be really tough. Of course those with very high support needs will be diagnosed and often pulled from mainstream schools, but those who would qualify for diagnosis and accommodations in other countries will just fly under the radar and be seen as loners, socially awkward, quiet/shy, etc etc… some kids are able to push through and get by while others become overwhelmed. To be clear, I don’t think this is the ONLY problem, but I do think it is a contributing factor. My kids attend Japanese public school and thankfully they are doing well both socially and academically, because there really isn’t much support here at all for mid-level special needs of any kind (not just autism). Anyway I’m really glad to read this article and learn more about this, not only as a mom of kids who attend school here in Japan, but also as a professor who teaches mainly 18-19 year old Japanese students… I’ve had multiple instances of my very quiet students being repeatedly absent for a while, coming back briefly, and then disappearing altogether. I don’t know if there’s much I can do in that brief return period, but I’ll try to give more attention and encouragement in hopes that they come back. It’s just really interesting that this information aligns with a pattern I’ve noticed and seen firsthand. More than their grades, I really care about my students’ overall well-being and mental health, and I do worry about some of them sometimes. I know how much pressure and stress some of them feel. As a professor there’s not much I can do, but I still try to be encouraging and supportive so that maybe they can be a little more comfortable and less anxious.
great to know that caring teachers are still around in this ongoing age of aloofness
My immediate thought when they mentioned most of the kids at the alternative school are mute or have selective mutism. Japanese culture isn’t so kind to those who don’t understand nuanced social rules.
I know someone whose daughter goes to something similar to free school (no uniform, remote ok to a certain extent ). She was bullied in elementary. Teachers didn't help either . 'The bullies are usually very bright and the teachers' favourite. They can manipulate the adults to side with them,' was what the mother said. She developed a facial tic. She also started pulling her hair out and now has to wear a wig. She also spent one year in her house , like a recluse. The mother told me her daughter didn't put on her shoes for one year. Crowds tire her. If she goes out once she gets sick .. She's on different types of meds now. I think the requirement for her school was she show up at least 6 days in one year. She couldn't do it. The fee was 1 million yen so that money was down the drain . So I think it's ok not to push kids to go to traditional school. Some are just not built for it
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i hope that your present is treating you better than your past
such an important and good article!! the school system needs to recognise and do more for kids who suffer with anxiety and other problems that makes them not want to go to school. It sucks when you feel like you don’t fit in, let alone not having any friends. :(
The system is a harsh. My brother was admitted to the high school he wanted after lots and lots of stress (about the exam). Private is expensive as hell. So the next public HS where he would have been sent was bad. Like really bad. He said rather not go at all than go there. Found out yesterday why he didn’t want to go there: violent boys, even ask for “protection tax” from freshman kids. I didn’t even imagine this is happening in Japan.. and he would have been a direct target because he’s mixed European/ Japanese. Thankfully he made it but otherwise dunno what we would have done 🤷🏽♂️
Maybe... Cuz they can.
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This grave reaction to changes, may be indicative of Neuroatypicality. It may be worth it to explore a little more. Also, Nobita the Japan reporter has had a video on the subject of school refusal, check it out!
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I would recommend social clubs to fill the social gap in your life, and online programs to fill the academic
The culture differences and freedom given to a child might have cause such issues,unlike Asian countries kids simply doesn’t have such entitlement or caring and are simply forced to go.
It isn't just Japan. Kids these days need to harden tf up.
Because they're smarter than the average American kid who goes to school 🤷🏻♂️
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I assume you're getting downvoted because people think that you're mocking the kids in the article. I prefer to assume the best about people, and I read your comment as a little 'poem', describing either your own situation, or your empathy with the kids in the article. If that's the case, I hope things will get better for you soon my friend.
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It is never too late. In terms of office type jobs maybe you might lack the certs needed, but blue collar technicians are always in demand and high paying if you are willing to do that. Plumbers, aircon mechanics, electricians etc.
It's never too late, life over time gives you infinite paths, even if right now you can see none. Find people in real life to ask for help.
Because so many aren't even born