pessimistifications part I

Overall I think my Japan experience has been great and I'm a better person for it. But there are moments of extreme frustration that are just like a punch in the guts right when I'm starting to feel optimistic about Japan in general. I call these "pessimistifications*". They make me wanna kick Japan in the face, or in the balls, seeing as it seems to be such a man's land [but that's an entirely separate blog;) ].

There is a boy in grade 8 who has has severe learning disabilities. He does not participate in any class activities, and can't even do simple tasks such as filling in blanks on a worksheet. He has near zero communication skills, even when the JTE (Japanese Teacher of English) speaks to him in Japanese. Apparently it's not just in English class either; he can't function in any subject. I don't understand how someone who is in such obvious need of special education could stay in mainstream schooling. I asked the JTE what's going on and she told me that in the Japanese public education system the school is powerless in such a situation. The teachers can recommend to the parents that their child receives special education, but it is up to the parents whether or not to act on this recommendation. I asked the JTE why the parents wouldn't seek special schooling, and I thought perhaps it's because it's expensive. But she said, no, it's a question of social status - giving their child special education would be shameful.

Here's something else - in Japan every student can graduate from junior high school (equivalent to Australian grade 7 -9) regardless of academic performance. In fact, students don't even need to come to school, let alone submit work or take exams, to pass. So this student will graduate from junior high school next year. What will happen to him then??

I've often thought that there seem to be more 'problem students' in Japan than I noticed at school in Australia. There seem to be more students with learning disabilities, ADD, anti-social behaviour, etc. I just thought maybe I never noticed these things back home as a student, and that it's more obvious now from a teacher's perspective. But now I'm beginning to see that it's because parents are forcing their special needs children through mainstream schooling for the sake of "saving face". I guess I should be more tolerant when students are pissing me off, because it's not their fault that they haven't been given the proper education they need.

*It's my blog and I'll make up words if I want to!