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.