Working Hours and CLUB ACTIVITIES

The Japanese education system is different from education in England in so MANY ways that I hardly know where to begin with this blog post.

But, I will start, logically, with my initial incredulity from my first few days in Japan (which continues today, and I`m sure will continue until the end of the year) at the teachers who remain at school late into the evening, everyday. This is a different case from the reason they all come into work during the school holidays (which relates to the fact that teachers are public servants in Japan. The public expects that they work hard, and not slack off. Just because there are no students to teach doesn`t mean they shouldn`t be at work!).

No, during the school term, it is not like the holidays. Teachers do not draw out their time at work for good appearance to the public (though I am sure that not appearing lazy in front of your colleagues by going home before the average, is a part of it). Teachers remain at work late into the evening because they genuinely are THAT busy, and have not completed their work.

The time at which teachers will break out and leave the teacher`s room does vary from school to school. One JTE at my low level school leaves at 5.30 pm. (NB – all Japanese schools “finish” at 3.30 pm). This seemed very early to me. My supervisor at Taga typically leaves at 7 pm, and a JTE at a higher level school leaves at 8 pm. I am convinced that many teachers remain longer than this though. Certainly when I returned to school one day at 6.45 pm ish the teachers room was as full and lively as at any time during the school hours, and not many were showing signs of readiness to leave yet.

I am exemplifying typical timings here for everyday, normal days. However, Japanese schools have sports festivals, culture festivals, generic school festivals, a lot of effort for which is put in by the students and the teachers alike. Staying until 9.30-10 pm is the norm for my supervisor on these days. (And she only went home because her son was getting hungry(!)).

I am so curious about the teacher`s working hours that I like to ask as many people as I can, their daily schedule. The biggest shock I received was when talking to a junior high school teacher. He stated that typically he left work at 9 pm everyday (having arrived at work at 7 am by the way), arriving home to eat supper at 11 pm every night.

Why do they all work like this? The reason is they do not only plan lessons and teach lessons. That forms half or less of a teachers work in Japan. Admittedly, I have been told that junior high school teachers do have a slightly fuller schedule of lessons to teach in comparison to senior high school teachers who may have more free periods. But, these teachers are busy.

A major contribution to their busy-ness is the infamous “club activity”. Club activities are hugely important in Japanese schools. Every teacher should have responsibility for one (and those that do not, ARE looked down upon as not contributing significantly to the school life, and may even be moved on to another school soon).

Dedication, turning up to the club everyday for practice earns you respect. It is valued highly in Japan. Not only in the sphere of club activities but widely as a whole. In a way how dedicated you are to your club sport is more important than how good you are at the sport (though the two are obviously linked). My supervisor’s husband teaches at junior high level and had moved schools a few years ago. At his previous school he had been in charge of baseball club but at his new school he was to replace the teacher that had been in charge of basketball club. SO, what else was he to do – but learn the rules of basketball! He bought a rule book, he studied it. He turned up to the practice with the students. They respected him as their team coach BECAUSE of that dedication to their team. That is what is important in Japan – participation, dedication to the group, the community.

The teachers participation in the club activity is definitely given a lot of recognition by all the teachers and senior staff (well – you`d hope it would be, given the effort teachers make on this front). Japanese teachers are required to move schools – they are not allowed to stay working in one school for ever and ever (that would just be too kind – to allow a teacher to get comfortable in their school, perhaps live relatively nearby etc). They must stay in their schools for a minimum of 4 years and a maximum of 12 years. Though, a period of just 6 years at one school is typical. Teachers can only make a short list of 4 schools and they will be assigned to their next school by the authorities as where to go next. (The final decision as to where the teacher will teach does not rest with the teacher). But, it was interesting for me to find out that the only teacher I know who has stayed at a school for the 12 years is a teacher who is extremely dedicated to his swimming club. The club has been very successful in many prefectural competitions. And everybody in the teachers room knows, is very impressed. I am sure this teacher has not been required to move on from Taga High School because of his role in the club activity. More interesting is the case of a teacher who sits opposite me. My supervisor had told me early on, that she worries about this teacher. This teacher does not have a club activity of her own. As a result during the school holidays this teacher really did have nothing to do. She sat and read Japanese novels and did leave early. Of course this lack of contribution to the school life and community (both in time and club activity terms) was noticed by the other teachers and the by the more senior staff. My supervisor worries that this teacher will be moved on soon, and most likely to a lower level school. Her career could be on a downturn because she isn`t willing – like all of the rest – to live her life through Taga High School and spend most of her waking hours at a club activity. My supervisor says this is because she thinks that she is depressed – but, in England this attitude would be of any regular person! It certainly is my attitude.