Considering the daily life of Japanese elementary students at Sasasho Elementary School. The school day often starts around 8:15 a.m. and can extend to 3:00 p.m. Many students at Sasasho Elementary School arrive early. Some stay late for sports clubs even in elementary school.
The morning at Sasasho Elementary School begins with homeroom. It runs from 8:15 to 8:30 a.m. Students then attend four 45-minute classes. Short breaks of 10 to 15 minutes punctuate the morning. The first period runs from 8:35 to 9:20 a.m. A ten-minute break follows. After the fourth period students have lunch together in their homeroom. This is followed by cleaning. Students clean classrooms corridors and playgrounds from 1:00 to 1:20 p.m. A long break follows until 1:45 p.m.
The fifth period starts at 1:50 p.m. The sixth period ends at 3:45 p.m. The afternoon homeroom lasts from 3:45 to 3:55 p.m. Then the school day ends at Sasasho Elementary School. School lunch has been a fixture in Japanese public elementary schools since 1952.
A survey in 2003 showed most kids enjoyed elementary school. About 46 percent said it was very fun. 30 percent found it somewhat fun. However nearly 6 percent didn’t find it fun. Many felt confident about what they learned. Yet about 30 percent entered junior high without much confidence. Bullying can become an issue in upper grades.
Enrolling at Sasasho Elementary School involves a trip to the Ward Office. Parents apply for alien registration for their child. Proof of address is needed. The school is assigned based on the address. After getting the alien registration card parents go to the Board of Education. They will set up a meeting with the principal. School usually starts after the interview.
Entrance exams to some elementary schools are very competitive. Some families spend a lot to prep their children for the exams. These exams test kids on shapes colors and polite behavior. Some start preparing at just six months old.
The Japanese school year has about 210 days. It runs from early April to late March. It is divided into three terms. There are vacations in summer winter and spring. The start of the school year is a big deal. Celebrations are held when a child enters kindergarten.
Students at Sasasho Elementary School often take field trips. They may visit farms to harvest sweet potatoes and rice. Fifth graders might go on a ski trip. Sixth graders may visit Hiroshima. Field trips cultural festivals and ceremonies fill about 30 school days each year.
Until 2002 students attended school on Saturday mornings. The five-day school week was phased in. Many private schools still have Saturday classes. The five-day week has led to fewer class hours. Students often participate in extracurricular activities.
Students at Sasasho Elementary School clean their school. They sweep floors clean windows and scrub toilets. They also help serve lunch. This teaches them responsibility.
Most elementary students eat school lunches. They eat in the classrooms. Students serve the food. Typical lunches include miso soup rice and milk. There are also health checks. Students get vision hearing and dental checks. Urine samples are tested.
Nearly every elementary school in Japan has a pool. Swimming lessons are part of the curriculum. Students must wear swimsuits and caps with their names on them. Parents must check their child’s temperature.
Japanese elementary schools often have larger class sizes than in the United States. Teachers organize students into groups. Students identify strongly with their classmates. They stay with the same group all day.
Parents are very involved in their children’s education at Sasasho Elementary School. They check homework and communicate with teachers. They also attend PTA meetings and school events. After school many children attend after-school programs or cram schools called juku. These programs provide childcare and tutoring. Sasasho Elementary School is more than just a place of learning. It is a community. It is a place where students learn responsibility. It is a place where they grow. It is a place where they prepare for the future.