Spanner in the works (Jp. school system and mentality)

[himitsu]

Sometimes it feels like fighting the mills..
I work at JH 3 days a week. We have English club on 2 of these days, so I have one rather free afternoon. The "rules" of the English club sometimes annoy me, so I was thinking of starting a kind of "special English club" on the other day, when I have time. I was also thinking to make it quite flexible and free, for both content and attendance. Thus students of other clubs could join if they are free, or 3nensei (who can't join or continue clubs after September). One could also have some more specific learning (e.g. homework, tests, eiken, anything). I thought it to be a wonderful and easy-to-do idea. I was a dreamer.
First I asked a JTE, who is in charge of the English club and unofficially of the ALTs and all English activity (at least that's the impression of our new VP), and she was worried about "sekininsha". I didn't know, but apparently every club or circle-type thing needs a teacher who holds the responsibility, for ex. if something happens that they talk to the parents and stuff. But as it's not a real club, it would need all HRTs to accept that role for those days, which must be dicussed during a meeting. And of course the approval of the VP first. So I asked the VP, but he doomed my plan because of a completely different thing: as most club students won't be able to join because of the club activity, only those who are not in clubs can, and thus it's "unfair". I thought it's BS, but again, I thought he might be right and I'm just not able to think that way. Anyway I knew I wouldn't be able to convince him otherwise so finally I could only give up...

[jeisensei]

Reading just the your first paragraph (second?...well the one that starts with "I work...") sent chills down my spine. The first thing I thought was "No. No. That will never work." There are way too many layers and level to the club systems of Japanese schools that starting one in the middle of the year just would not fly. The problem is that you used the word "club." Clubs are special things to Japanese people (I would even go so far to say clubs define the people. When Japanese people get to know each other one of the first questions is always "What club were you in in JHS or in HS?" If they were in the same club there is the chance that they have friends in common and the whole social circle/bonding thing starts.) So, it is never good to lightly start a club (and I am not saying you are trying it lightly...just that is how the Japanese would see it).

My advice? Be happy that you have those 2 days of clubs. For someone like me that has none, it is a situation to be jealous about.

[azuhlLt.]

"So I asked the VP, but he doomed my plan because of a completely different thing: as most club students won't be able to join because of the club activity, only those who are not in clubs can, and thus it's "unfair"."

Same for me, I wanted to start an English club, they said no...there's not time. I spend most of my time sitting here(when I'm not teaching) dicking around on the internet. They know it, I know it and yet I still can't use my skills because it's something different.

I've also taken it upon myself to teach kids self-defence for about 5 mins at a time. It's getting dark here after school and if any of my students were attacked or raped, I'd be devestated as I KNOW I can help them to defend themselves. A few teachers know, but they just let me get on with it...it's alright. I did ask Kyoto and Kocho, but they both said 'no'. I think preservation of safety is more important than a solitary rule (in this case), so I'm willing to put my job on the line (dramatic morning).
I put my life on the line ever time I board my bike

I think it's standard practise to encourage you to think of something, then have it shot-down by the system, then again, I can only go off hear-say and personal experience.

[Paul]

Suggestion here, something jeisensei touched on and I would like to expound on to maybe give you an idea on how to re-approach the topic with your school.

First off to your school the idea of a "club" brings up visions of something that is official and to have an official club means teachers have to be the head of the club, they get budgets for their activities and meet on a regular basis along with having to file reports at the end of the year about their activities and how they used their funding and what not.

Approaching it as a club might not have been the best way to get their support and ok.

I would suggest this; call it a doukoukai which literally means an association of like minded people. 同好会, どうこうかい. That would relieve the school of needing to do anything official, and leave it open to you to let anyone come and go as they so pleased. No budgeting, nothing really official. Most clubs start as doukooukai and after, depending upon the school rules, 2 or 3 years of activities and having enough "stable" members you can apply to the school for "official" club status.

Now I don't know if that is how far you want to take it, but if you approach the school and say that you want to open up a chance for any kids to participate, lay out your plan again, keep it unofficial, MAYBE they might reconsider.

[jeisensei]

Indeed. Make it as unofficial as possible. I was going to get to that if I didn't have to go to that pesky first period class.
You might have already muddied up the waters by bringing it up as a club, but the best of luck.

[himitsu]

Thanks for your advices. I just called it "club", without being fully aware that in Japanese schools there is so much more behind it.
The problem is that even if I call it something else (I think the teacher said "so it's more like a circle" or so), it won't change what the VP said...

[jeisensei]

Why don't you do something like try to set up an English exchange diary. That way you will have something to correct and write back to on that free afternoon that you have. Hell, at my school I have two whole days with no classes (I don't need to hear anyone say they are underused if they are at school 5 days a week but they have classes on more than 3 of those days) so I set up an English diary and it works well. The kids that want to participate pass them into me on Tuesday and I pass them back after I am finished writing back to them.

[himitsu]

Sounds interesting, though considering the lack of motivation among most of our students, it would rather surprise me if they actually go for it.
So what do you and your st. write in that?

[jeisensei]

They write anything and everything they want. I get things from my lowest level first year students giving me a list of things they like to my highest level 3rd year students telling me all about their lives (things that I would never have asked about, but they still like to write about for some reason).

[himitsu]

I see^ ^

[Jeimuzu]

(things that I would never have asked about, but they still like to write about for some reason).

Details please.

[Paul]

Why don't you do something like try to set up an English exchange diary. That way you will have something to correct and write back to on that free afternoon that you have. Hell, at my school I have two whole days with no classes (I don't need to hear anyone say they are underused if they are at school 5 days a week but they have classes on more than 3 of those days) so I set up an English diary and it works well. The kids that want to participate pass them into me on Tuesday and I pass them back after I am finished writing back to them.

This is a great idea! Only problem I think in setting something like this up now, at this particular time of year, is the 3rd year kids and their prep for the HS entrance exam.

Do your 3rd year kids keep up with this?

[jeisensei]

(things that I would never have asked about, but they still like to write about for some reason).

Details please.

Hah
Can't do my friend. Student teacher confidentiality and all that

[jeisensei]

This is a great idea! Only problem I think in setting something like this up now, at this particular time of year, is the 3rd year kids and their prep for the HS entrance exam.

Do your 3rd year kids keep up with this?

Thank you very much man. It is mostly my third year kids that keep up with it because they always ask me about grammar rules or other things that they don't understand. For example one of my 3rd year kids asked me "I don't understand 'that.' Why is it 'that' + 主語(しゅご - subject of the sentence)?" I tell them they don't have to use a dictionary to look up things that they don't know and they can use Japanese but they should use all the English they know. And, I always tell them to practice the grammar they know even though it may not be anything diary like (giving opinions and the like for 3rd year kids)

Of course, it is only the most motivated students that actually have diaries. I am trying to think of ways to motivate the other students so I actually have things to do on my two classless days hah.