Teachers, parents discuss education to open a future for children

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Teachers, parents discuss education to open a future for children

About 10,000 people, including teachers and parents, took part in the annual national education assembly under the theme “We will open a bright future in the 21st century!” on August 21-24 in Kyoto.

The discussions were held on various themes, including, “Promoting participation of children, parents, teachers and staff in school affairs” and “Career development for adolescents.” Junior high and senior high school students organized a special workshop on their own. A symposium titled “Children in poverty” attracted many participants.

In the opening speech on behalf of the organizing committee on the first day, All Japan Teachers and Staff Union (Zenkyo) President Yoneura Tadashi said, “Let us build a closer cooperation of parents, teachers, and communities in opposing the government imposition of the curriculum guidelines and enabling every school to democratically determine their curriculums and produce educational practices that are sound. That is the way to stop the further increase in the poverty rate and economic disparities, and defend children’s right to learn and become engaged citizens.”

Vigorous discussions took place in workshops on parents’ efforts to improve education, peace studies, and part-time students’ efforts to make a success of their school festivals.

In a workshop on “the movement to establish the basic conditions for education,” a participant from Inami Town in Hyogo Prefecture reported on the effort that succeeded in restoring the town-run school lunch system by collecting signatures from 42 percent of the townspeople.

In the workshop on “social studies,” an elementary school teacher from Chiba Prefecture reported about his experience in giving a special class on the theme of war and peace. He said that he invited outside lecturers, including a Korean teacher enabling children to learn the history of Asian countries that were affected by the Japanese war of aggression. This was effective in helping children realize that Japan was responsible for the Asian countries’ suffering.

In a special workshop, a 17-year-old high school student spoke about annual mutual visits between Japanese, Chinese, and Korean young people to listen to war-survivors’ testimonies. - Akahata, August 22-25, 2008