Can you hear the echoes of laughter? They resonate from the heart of Edogawa at Osugi Higashi Elementary School. This school is more than brick and mortar. It is a place of learning. It is a pillar of the community.
Osugi Higashi Elementary School is one of many schools in Tokyo. These schools play a vital role. They shape young minds. They prepare children for the future. Education is compulsory in Japan. Children begin first grade in April after they turn six. Starting school is a major event. It marks a new chapter in a child’s life.
In Japan elementary schools are called Shogakko. The modern elementary school system began in 1886. Until 1947 only elementary school was compulsory. Today education takes place in public schools. Tuition is free. Families pay for lunches and supplies. Less than 1 percent of schools are private.
Elementary school classes can be large. They often hold between thirty and forty students. Students work in small groups. These groups have both academic and disciplinary functions.
The Ministry’s Course of Study is broad. It covers many subjects. Academic subjects include Japanese language. They also include social studies arithmetic and science. Japanese language is emphasized. This is due to its complexity. The English Language is now mandatory in the higher grades. Nonacademic subjects include art. Handicrafts music and physical education are important too. Moral education is also essential. Children take part in special activities each week. They learn to manage class business and plan field trips. They cultivate responsibility and work together.
Daily life at Osugi Higashi Elementary School is structured. Schools begin around 7:50 am. Lessons start at 8:30 am. Schools do not have school buses. Public transportation is readily available.
The first fifteen minutes are for assembly or homeroom. Classes last 40 to 45 minutes. There is a short break in between. After four classes students pick up lunches. Lunches are served in bento boxes. The meals have small portions of various foods. These include meats fish vegetables and sea plants. Milk is served with each meal. Students eat lunch in the classroom. The teacher joins them. This provides a chance to teach good habits. Lunch lasts about 40 minutes.
Some younger children go home after lunch. Older students have one more class. Other schools have five or six classes a day. Some schools have a 20-minute recess. Students clean the classrooms. They sweep mop and take out trash. They usually leave school around three o’clock. After-school clubs are offered. Unlike middle and high school clubs these meet once a week.
Though effective Japanese elementary schools face challenges. These include absenteeism and bullying. Despite these challenges schools like Osugi Higashi Elementary School strive for excellence. They shape the future of Japan one student at a time.