OCR Text |
Show -NEWS- Spanish Fork A14 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 2008 Covering what matters most Japan: China: From MERRILL • A l resentatives, a female member of the House of Counsellors, and the President of the University of Japan were some of the speakers that presented information on education in Japan. Merrill and the other teachers were divided and sent to different prefectures (similar to our states). "I went to a prefecture north of Tokyo called Tochigi," said Merrill. In Tochigi's capital city, Shimotsuke, Merrill was introduced to the Mayor and to members of the Board of Education. Unlike in the U.S., education in Japan is standardized under a national board. During this time, Merrill was also able to do some sightseeing. "Lots of the sightseeing we did involved Buddhist Temples," said Merrill. "Because those are so important in their culture, they took us to temple after temple after temple." Another interesting part of Merrill's trip was her chance to spend time in Japanese schools."The elementary schools were really fun," Merrill said. "The whole concept there is that everyone is included; everyone is kind and polite to each other... I don't think it was just a show they put on for us, either, because you can't get young kids to fake it for that long." Merrill described how the teachers and students in the elementary schools stay together all day long. "Even during lunch, the teachers stay in the classroom and eat with the kids. We got to eat with them too, and they had a good time showing us how to put the vinegar in our soup, and wrap the seaweed around our fish. When they finish, they have a whole routine which includes getting everything ready for recycling," Merrill explained. The junior high level schools were similar to the elementary schools. "One interesting thing was that the kids all helped clean the school at the end of each day," Merrill said. "At 2:30 when school gets out, everyone gets a rag, and they sweep, mop, and scrub everything down," said Merrill. After school, from 3-5 p.m., junior high age students have "club," or extracurricular activities at the schools, About 80% of students stay and participate in the activities, which include martial arts, sports, table tennis, music, calligraphy, and others. "Most of these activities weren't even supervised by teachers," Merrill explained. "The kids just go in and practice on their own. They are very self-disciplined." Japanese high school is not mandatory, but 97 percent of children still attend. Merrill was surprised at the difference in atmosphere between the high schools and the elementary schools. "In the high schools, students aren't allowed to talk and ask questions and interact with the teachers. They just have to sit there and listen. If they have questions, they wait until their, afterschool 'cram' sessions [basically one-on-one or smallgroup tutoring sessions! to ask them," said Merrill. Merrill also noticed the great pressure on students to do well in school and get good jobs. "The pressure starts way back in junior high, because you have to be specializing in something by high school," says Merrill. "Then you have to do well so you can be accepted to a good college, and get a good job, because once you are in a job, you can't really change." Merrill was also able to stay the night in a Japanese home, and see how interwoven education is in Japanese children's lives. "They go to school, then to 'club,' then home for a quick dinner, and then to their cram schools often until 9 or 10 p.m. They also have studies on Saturdays, Many kids have private English lessons." While Japan is held as a model for U.S. schools, Merrill says they are also looking for ways to be less high-pressure. "The system works for them, and it's been in place for a long time," says Merrill. "But they are still looking for ways to maintain their standards while giving the kids a little more freedom." In this regard, American and Japanese educators could both learn from each other. "They are a very test-oriented society," says Merrill. "Over here, we are better at giving the kids more time to explore their options, to try out things before being tied down to one career. But there are also some great things about all the time schooling takes for the Japanese kids. There is a lot less crime." From MECHAM • A l for ping-pong and kungfu, and also a school for the handicapped," said Mecham. "And we got to try a lot of really interesting foods." Mecham's favorite part of the local cuisine, she says, was "the rice, but we also had to try chicken brains!" Mecham, along with three other students, stayed one night with a Chinese family in order to experience some of the Chinese culture firsthand. She also got to see the areas where some Olympic events will be held this summer. Mecham's favorite part of the trip was her time in Beijing. "I liked seeing the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, and Tiananmen Square," she said. "My promise to you... Integrity in all we do." DONTIORGKI TO LISTEN TO THI:HARIU-;K BRO'llir.RS CAR TALK SHOW EVKRY SATURDAY A110 A.M. ON 1280 AM! 2008HHRIS3UMPCHWV. 200BAVE0SLS -Fred Barber] 2008 COBALT COUPE XFE ac EPA ESI JUMPCHWY. •1k# N90090 •IM NltOOO 08 CHEVROLET AVEO LS $ 4 ** 08 CHEV COBALT XFE $ AtJ t\e%f%* to, A/C, PW/PL, Tilt Cruise, * 1 l|_5#%JH 13,850* p , Aluminum Wheels,, Spoiler, CD/MP3 Player, 6 Speakers 6 In Stock! &-•-— Ittd N86460 08 CHEV COLORADO EXT 4x4 $ 08 CHEV MALIBU LT 18,995* 91430 $ Starting at 1 8 , 9 9 5 SALE ENDS July 31,200$, 'Prlc* plus tm, IICMM, ind (Mi. Oulir rittini ill 6M ewnif l&yjlty Oonus es§h retained by AM AMERICAN R VOLUTION 1341 N. Main Street • Spanish Fork • 801-798-7431 • 800-798-7430 |