Differences in Junior High Schools

[bum1]

I'm teaching a class about the differences between American and Japanese junior high schools. Are there any striking differences you think I should point out?

[TENGU]

Japanese education in JHS is rote memorization to get into highschool

Edited by Paul to rephrase a possibly offending term.....

[Paul]

How about the differences in class schedules. At least when I was a kid I remember that our classes were the same period and time over the course of the school year and didnt bounce around like they do here.

At least for me anyway, how about teaching the kids that there usually isnt a teachers room in most schools, not like here at least, and that the classrooms are the individual teachers office as well.

That school usually finishes between 2:30 and 3:00PM and that most sports are finished with practice by 5 or 6 and that weekends for the most part are free as well.

Kids play seasonal sports and not the same one all year round.

Having different grade levels together in the same homeroom and the students move between classes and not teachers. (At least I did)

[Otaku]

Starting next year, J-kids are going to have to study a J-sport.

The same: Uniforms (formal winter/summer, casual winter/summer, gym clothes, shoes, even sometimes gym shoes)

Teachers, usually not dressed to the nines to teaching.

There's some more things on the site under "must" grammar point

[TENGU]

British JHS equivalents used to promote, neigh demand, independent thinking, especially in
ART
SCIENCE
ENGLISH
RE
PD


questioning of methodology and reasoning was always encouraged. Freedom of expression and choice were also promoted, conversely consequence and responsibility were also ascribed to one's actions. Nonetheless these qualities were never taught/encouraged as to be a detriment to others. Manners, compassion and courtesy were paramount in the quest for being the best that you could. Failure in these areas would incur a much more severe reprimand/punishment than failing as an individual.


What a notion eh, everyone strives to excel at what they are good at, combine it with what others excel at, work together to achieve the best. Beats drone syndrome any day.

[jessen100]

whats RE?
and PD?



the system for discipline might be an interesting thing to point out as well.

i saw a fake gun in the classroom the other day and found it a little funny, just because in america someone would get expelled for bringing it.

[Otaku]

A student had a fake gun? Was it a pellet gun?

Maybe it's just me, but I think Japan kinda thinks of a gun as a toy since they are banned and the majority of its citizens has never seen a real one up close, much less held or fired one.

[jessen100]

idk if it actually shot stuff, i just saw it sittin around by their bags

[TENGU]

whats RE?
and PD?

RE - Religious Education: we had to study the major religions of the world.

PD - Personal Development (becoming an adult, health issues, education, career, saving, how tax and health insurance systems work, etc etc)

[bum1]

American students do not have to wear a uniform in school.
American students can buy cola and snacks at school and some teachers let them eat and drink in class.
American teachers do not care what the students do outside of school.
American schools have a 3 month summer vacation and a 2 week winter vacation.
Teachers also get these vacations.
There is a button inside American classrooms. The teacher can push the button and someone will take the bad student to the principal’s office.
If a student doesn’t go to school the police will go to the parent’s house and bring the student to school. If the student isn’t home the police will search and bring the student back. I saw the police do this many times.
My junior high school had 7 periods and a lunch time. Each period had a 5 minute break.
American students keep their things in a locker. Each locker has a secret combination that only the principal and the student knows.
American teachers each have their own room. The students must move to different rooms during the break. Lunch time in our school was 1 hour long.
Clubs are called after school activities. After school activities can not meet by themselves. A teacher must be with the students if they are doing an after school activity.
If a student is on a sports team they can often miss part of regular school to go to a game.
In America there is no brass band club. Brass band is a regular subject and uses regular school time.
There is a Jazz Band club that meets before or after school.
In America more boys join the brass band. The brass band is 50% boys and 50% girls.
American Junior high school students choose their own extra subjects.
They can study
Home Economics
Wood Shop
Metal Shop
Spanish or German (Must choose one)
Brass Band
Choir
Orchestra
Painting
Sculpture
American students must go to high school.
American students do not clean their school.
Janitors clean the school.
There is a free bus that takes all of the students to school who live more than 1.5 kilometers away.
American schools make their own lunches. If your family does not make much money you can eat for free. American school lunch in my school always served hamburgers and pizza and also many other things. c Students talk to their friends in the lunchroom before and after school.
There is a computer in every classroom of most American schools.
There is no sports festival in American schools.
There is no culture festival in American schools.
American schools pay for each student’s textbooks. All textbooks are free.
All club activities are free.
There is no teachers’ room in America.

[jessen100]

i <3 your new avatar

[lkelly2477]

In America most kids only have 1 pair of shoes, 2 at the most. Here they have 3 or four pair. Taking shoes off an on gets on my nerves.

In America we have locker rooms for boys and girls, You don't see boys changing clothes outside or in the midle of the gymnasium.

Everyone goes to the lunchroom, theres no eating in class. That's what the lunchroom is for.

[Paul]

In America most kids only have 1 pair of shoes, 2 at the most. Here they have 3 or four pair. Taking shoes off an on gets on my nerves.

In America we have locker rooms for boys and girls, You don't see boys changing clothes outside or in the midle of the gymnasium.

Everyone goes to the lunchroom, theres no eating in class. That's what the lunchroom is for.

At least where I went to school the locker room had showers at well and taking a shower after PE class was mandatory.

This is one thing I can not stand here, the kids coming into class smelling like they just ran a marathon. It can get rather raunchy in the heat here, particularly during the warm months, June through December...........

It really was a bit of a shock to see kids here changing together (ES) in their classrooms. In my JHS's they do use locker rooms that are separate but still no showers.

[bum1]

Those are good ones.

[lkelly2477]

Very good points. There is no ac or heat. So without heat it does get pretty funky. I'm so glad theres no school in August. Otherwise it would be unbearable. And they drink water out of a crusty, dirty, dingy sink. I will never drink out of that sink. They need some water fountains like in America.

[bum1]

God this whole country needs water fountians. That was the first thing that just knocked me to the floor with surprise when I started working here. Everything is geared toward you giving ASAHI or KIRIN your money.

[Paul]

Here in Okinawa we have bubler's (water fountains) in all the JHS's. Most have at least one on each floor. The lines get a bit long during breaks but everyone gets a drink.

In ES the kids here are allowed to bring a thermos of their favorite non-carbonated beverage.

[lkelly2477]

Here in Okinawa we have bubler's (water fountains) in all the JHS's. Most have at least one on each floor. The lines get a bit long during breaks but everyone gets a drink.

In ES the kids here are allowed to bring a thermos of their favorite non-carbonated beverage.

Wow they must have some good money there in Okinawa. I'm in the ghetto part of West Tokyo where they have no money to spare. We are so far behind here we still old style guillotine paper cutters that I don't know how to use. But on a positive note they did invest some money on copying. We have 2 risographs, I love these, they print lightning speed everytime. Does everyone out there have on or two?

[crustpunker]

Here in Okinawa we have bubler's (water fountains) in all the JHS's. Most have at least one on each floor. The lines get a bit long during breaks but everyone gets a drink.

In ES the kids here are allowed to bring a thermos of their favorite non-carbonated beverage.

Bubblers?!?!?! Are you from Boston/New England area?????

[lkelly2477]

And also, bar soap. I couldn't beleive they still use bar soap here. We cant use it in the states because it carries germs. And then on top of that no hand towel. I'm supposed to bring my own towel? Stop the insanity!

[Otaku]

lkelly, you didn't get the TPS report? Being green takes precedent over cleanliness...

[bum1]

My ass. Japanese throw more plastic in the trash and use more packaging to market items than ANY other country I've ever been too. It ain't about green. It's because the govt is still chinsey when it comes to the comfort of students.

[Otaku]

...I guess sarcasm doesn't flow easily via the net...

[bum1]

[jessen100]

...I guess sarcasm doesn't flow easily via the net...

I thought we just went over that with those essays....

[Otaku]

[Paul]

Here in Okinawa we have bubler's (water fountains) in all the JHS's. Most have at least one on each floor. The lines get a bit long during breaks but everyone gets a drink.

In ES the kids here are allowed to bring a thermos of their favorite non-carbonated beverage.

Bubblers?!?!?! Are you from Boston/New England area?????

Wisconsin!

[lkelly2477]

lkelly, you didn't get the TPS report? Being green takes precedent over cleanliness...

Oh man! That must have been that paper I used to wipe with when we ran out of T.P.

[crustpunker]

Here in Okinawa we have bubler's (water fountains) in all the JHS's. Most have at least one on each floor. The lines get a bit long during breaks but everyone gets a drink.

In ES the kids here are allowed to bring a thermos of their favorite non-carbonated beverage.

Bubblers?!?!?! Are you from Boston/New England area?????

Wisconsin!

Oh my! I think that is like one of the only areas outside of Boston/New England that actually uses that term for wata fountains!
Ha!!!!
perchance to you happen to call rubber bands "elastics" or chocolate/rainbow sprinkles on top of ice cream "jimmies?" That would really blow me away!

[lkelly2477]

Do they have any fund raisers in schools in Japan? I remember selling chocolate or lollipops or snacks to raise money. And usually the top sellers got a prize.