An education in violence

Reference

The Japan Times Weekly. (2009, Dec 19). “An education in violence” , Retrieved

Oct. 5, 2010 from http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ed20091213a1.html

Summary

In this article “An education in violence”, the editor says that the amount

of violence behavior in Japanese schools is increasing. About 60,000 violent

incidents happened in 2008; also, the amount of violent cases reported is up

by 15% from 2007. Moreover, the number of acts of violence to teachers is

increasing. The editor points out that many young people tend to express

their emotion by violence when they face up to a problem. Also, the MEST

claims that many young people cannot communicate with someone well, and they

are not good at controlling their emotion. So, the editor says that the

education system has to stand up to this problem and solve it directly and

systematically. Young people have various problems such us study, sex, or

human relationship; therefore, educators need to help the students to stand

up to these problems and solve them. Also, the editor points out that the

computer and cell phone don’t help them to improve the ability of

communication and to solve their problems. In addition, the depression is

one of the reason that the amount of violent incidents is increasing, and

many parents don’t have enough opportunity to talk and spend with their

children. So, Japanese education needs to support young children and prevent

them from using violence. Schools need to not only guide students clearly,

but also they need to respect the students’ independence; therefore, young

people will notice that violence is the worst choice of all and is

meaningless.

Response

I also agree that recently many young people tend to use violence instead

of communicating with someone. I often watch the news that a child uses

violence and kills their family or friends in Japan. I feel that these

children are lacking in the communication skills and the ability of

solving problems. They cannot express emotion, their opinions, or feelings

with language. Also, I think unstable social conditions cause these

problems for young people. For example, recently many parents have to work

hard to make their own living; therefore, they don’t have enough

opportunity to talk and spend time with their children. Moreover, recently

the number of nuclear families is increasing year by year. So, many young

people don’t have enough opportunity to communicate with their family. In

addition, many young people tend to communicate with their friends, not face

to face, but through internet or cell phone. I feel that these tools are

promoting the lack of communication skills and the ability of solving

problems. Therefore, many young people tend to use violence easily. In the

article, the author points out that schools and the education system have

to prevent the young people from using violence. However, I think the first

family needs to give this problem more careful consideration. For example,

parents have the opportunity to communicate with their children as much as

possible. And, they teach their children that they must not use violence

when their children are young. So, I feel the number of violent incidents

will decrease. Moreover, teachers need to pay attention to student’s

expression, action and way of speaking. If they notice the problem, they

need to have time to talk with the student. When I become a teacher, the

amount of violence will be more increased. I want to keep in touch with

their protectors and have the opportunity to communicate with students as

long as possible. So, I want students to notice that violence is worst

choice of all.

A less-than-desirable ALTernative

Reference

The Yomiuri Shimbun (2010, August 19). “A less-than-desirable ALTernative”,

Sep. 14, 2010 from http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/by/features/language/T1008150

01255.htm

Summary

In the article “A less-than-desirable ALTernative”, the reporter states that 

there are many problems in Japanese English education, and using assistant

language teachers (ALTs) is one of the biggest problems in English education.

Today there are many ALTs in Japan, and they teach English to children at

school. Local governments and schools hope that it is a good experience for

children to study English with ALTs, and children can make progress in their

communication skills by talking with ALTs. However, many local governments

and schools do not employ directly, and most ALTs are employed as third

parties. Because schools do not have enough money to pay  the personnel

expenses, and ALTs are not required to have a the teacher’s license or

teaching experience. So, it is up to schools or local governments to direct

them. Also, few ALTs can speak Japanese fluently. Moreover, according to

this article, Japanese teacher cannot guide ALTs directly; therefore, there are

some problems between them. For example, some Japanese teachers do not

communicate with ALTs during class at all and do not teach English together.

As a consequence, some local governments have begun to employ Japanese

teachers who can speak English fluently instead of employing ALTs. In

addition, in middle or high school, children study  English grammar only to pass

the exam, and they cannot have the opportunity to speak English in class. So,

Rimi Morita said, “I think English classes during primary school are a fun way

for kids to come into contract with foreigners and it will help to motivate them.”

Response

I think it is difficult for some teachers to teach with ALTs during class. I have a

vital reasons that support my opinions. Teachers have to speak English fluently

to communicate with ALTs. It is natural that an English teacher speaks English

fluently; however, however there are many English teachers who cannot speak

English very well in Japan. When I was a middle school student, my English

teacher could not speak English very well. So, even if an ALT came to my

class, she didn’t talk with the ALT at all, and the ALT just read the textbook

and pronounced the words. I think teachers have to speak English fluently to

make use of the ALTs. Moreover, I think the government should reconsider the

employee system of ALTs. I have a crucial reason that supports my argument.

I think it is good experiment for children to communicate with a native speaker;

therefore, I feel the local government should employ more ALTs for children.

However, many local governments don’t have enough money to employ ALTs.

So, I think the Japanese government should provide ALTs with a comfortable

environment such as a stable salary or full employee system. Moreover, the

Education Ministry should give a lecture to every teacher about  how to teach

with ALTs during class and give the opportunity to demonstrate to the class

with ALTs. When I become an English teacher, I want to teach English with

ALTs as much as possible. So, I hope it is good experience for children to talk

with native speaker, and I want them to be interested in English and inter-

cultural communication.  

Teacher training colleges in wrong 'place'

Reference

Razak, D.A. (2009. July 5). “Teacher training colleges in wrong ‘place’.” New

Straits Times (Malaysia) from LexisNexis Academic.

Summary

In the article “Teacher training colleges in wrong ‘place’”, Razak describes

education has an effect of the future economic system; therefore, in order to

develop into a high-income country and have a sustainable economic system,

the government needs to review the education system. Also he said sometimes

we have to break the traditional education system to introduce new and

different education systems. Moreover to reconstruct the education system,

every system supports and cooperates with each other. Also, the original

Education Ministry was divided into two, and the teacher education is

under the new Education Ministry, and Institut Pendidikan Guru (IPG) was

made to connect school and teachers. There are enough institutions and

information to study in IPG and some university that is placed under the

Higher Education Ministry. However it has the disadvantages; for example,

the students cannot cement a friendship or share much information. As a

result, these things have bad influence on the education of teachers in the

future and give confusion to many people.

Response

I agree that the economic and education system are linked. Also I agree

that the most important way to develop one’s country is to improve the

education system, because we are requested the average of the academic

ability when we get a job. So I think it is good for children to put a great

deal of effort into study. Moreover I think that when the government

reviews the education system, the government has to change carefully,

because sometimes changing the education system has bad influence on

the children. In 2001, the Japanese government changed the education

system. Until then, we had had a class on Saturday; also, we had studied

a lot of contents in every subject. However, by revision of the education

system, we don’t have a class on Saturday, and we are not taught some

contents of every subject. Moreover the government insisted that the

children should spend time with their family on Saturday and every day

play with friends. I think this revision was not good, because many

children began to go to cram school even on Saturday; also, they came

to rely on cram school more than school. So the revision of the

education system had a bad influence on the children. I think the

government has to revise more carefully. When I am a teacher, I have to

teach in accordance with the education system. So I hope the education

system will change for not only children, but also teachers.         

Chinese premier reiterates necessity for improving

Reference

Official Chinese news agency Xinhua (2010, August 31). “ Chinese premier
reiterates necessity for improving education.” from LexisNexis Academic:
Document


Summary

Chinese premier Wen Jiabao said the most important thing to develop a powerful
one’s country is that everyone have a good education; also, he said the education
is very indispensable for China to become a top-class country. The Central
Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council suggested
“ The National Plan for Medium and Long- term Education Reform and
Development”, and it is proposed to develop China into a wealthy society; also, it
aims that everyone can get a opportunity to have the education. Also he said the
government must equally provide everyone with the education, and to improve
the education for China is indispensible for economic growth. He also said the
government has to provide the students from low- income families with the
environment to study and acquire skill; for example the government needs to
provide the educational resources, schools, vocational schools and funds.
Recently many students have been given a scholarship and subsidies.
However the preschool education is very poor in China, so he said we have to
provide local area and ethnic minority areas with good preschool education
immediately.

Reaction
I think recently Chinese economic growth is very tremendous. Also when I read
this article, I felt the Chinese government is putting a great deal of effort into the
education. So I think China will be a powerful country in the world soon.
Moreover I didn’t know the system of the scholarship funding and subsidies for
students was developing in China, so I was very surprised. I think it is good
system for children from low- income families to have a standard education.
However I am worried about educational differentials and earnings differentials
between the center and the local area. I have read a book about the gap in
China, and people in local areas cannot have a good education; also, their
wages are very low. Moreover children from local areas or rural areas cannot
go to school because they have to earn their livings; therefore, they cannot get
a large income. So I agree with the government’s plan in which they give a
comfortable environment to study and acquire skills to the students from low-
income families, local areas and ethnic minority areas. When I am a teacher,
I want to teach about the gap in China and why China is developing even now,
and I want students to discuss the problem.

How to Tackle Challenges of Quality Assurance in Education

Reference

Vanguard, Lagos (2010, May 20). “How to Tackle Challenge of Quality
Assurance in Education.”, from LexisNexis® Academic & Library 
Solutions2.mht. 


Summary

The author said that the most important thing to develop one’s country is 
that every citizen have a good basic education. Profess T. Adedoja 
declares the policy, “Challenges and Opportunities in Expanding Access, 
Equity and Quality AssuranceEducation.” He also said we have to provide
all children with a comfortable environment to study and world class 
education because having the education is a natural right for them. By 
improving the quality education, they are not discriminated against and feel 
inferior even if they live or work with foreigners in the future. Also Oyo 
State declares the policy of Oyo MESI, and he hopes all children not only 
acquire a good educational foundation but also cultivate their humanity 
through various experiences at the school.

Reaction  

When I read this article, I felt it is good thing for the government to tackle 
the education problem because I think the education problem is not solved 
unless the government tackle it. I have lived in Japan for 21years, so I have 
studied in a good environment. I could acquire not only the various knowledge 
but also the valuable experiences at the school, so I am very satisfied with my
environment. However sometimes I have nodded during the class and been
very careless about my homework, although I have a perfect environment. 
When I read this article, I realized that there are many children who cannot
have a standard education again. I have watched the TV about the education
of developing countries. Children said that we want to go school and study
hard; however, we cannot go to school because we have to work to make a 
living. Then they cannot read the letter and calculation forever. So I have to 
be thankful to study in the comfortable environment. I want to be a teacher in 
the future, so I want students to know the actual condition of educational 
environment of the developing countries, and I want them to be thankful to be 

able to study in a comfortable environment.