37% of teachers think colleagues inept
The Yomiuri reports that according to an official survey, “thirty-seven percent of teachers believe an increasing number of their colleagues lack sufficient ability to teach students, compared with 21 percent of prefectural education boards that feel likewise.”
Among the explanations given:
The majority of teachers who responded to the questionnaire 59 percent said the main reason for the increase was that they did not have enough time for self-education due to long working hours and an increase in workplace duties.
Teachers also said conventional teaching methods were no longer appropriate and that there was always a certain percentage of teachers who were inept.
About 70 percent of prefectural education boards stated that current training and guidance procedures are effective for teachers. However, only 30 percent of municipal education boards and teachers believed this to be the case.
Teachers have a very hard and responsible job. They are thought inept because they don’ t have sufficient ability to teach students, but more likely it’s because they have no time.
I think one of the most important jobs of educators is giving students interesting classes. But for this to happen, teachers need to be well informed, so they need lots of time to acquire that knowledge and prepare their classes. After all, they must inspire students to study of their own accord, which is the conventional aim of teaching. Therefore we should increase the number of teachers and lighten their workloads.
Comment [4]
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Juku school
I am teaching part-time at a juku school now.
While looking at leaflets, I happened to find the juku’s information. I decided to call the school because it is near Hisai station and I’m interested in teaching. When I called, the manager said, “Please come here for an interview.” So I went and was asked various questions by the manager. I decided I wanted to be employed at the school. I got some training, and then the manager said, “Please wait until we contact you.”
However, I didn’t hear from the school for three weeks, so eventually I got tired of waiting and contacted them myself. The manager said, “Please go to the juku school at Tsushinmachi because there are many teachers at Hisai, but there are only a few teachers at Tsushinmachi.”
So I went to the juku at Tsushinmachi. They showed me great hospitality. When I went to my first class, I was full in hopes and fears, but I had a good time because the student was friendly and spoke to me. After the class, I had to listen to her talk for an hour. She said, “Are you a sad man? Are you a natural fool?” But I only smiled:-)
I worked hard. After I got accustomed to the new surroudings, I heard some bad news. The manager said, “Another teacher has finished practice teaching and will return to the juku. I’ll have to fire you.”
However, the juku at Hisai said, “Please return to Hisai. You have work.” Therefore, I am working at Hisai now.
My work at the juku is individual guidance, which means I have to adapt to each student. It is very difficult, but I think it is a good point at this juku school.
I have seven students now. Two of them are elementary school students, three of them are junior high school students, and two of them are high school students. Some of them are rather odd but they’re all good students and they work hard. When a student asks me a question, at times I don’t know the answer. So I am studying not to lose my student now.
I exchange mail with my students. My students give me photos. One of them said, “Use it as a wallpaper.” So I am using it as a wallpaper. The exchange with the students is so-so, but I get to talk with the other teachers only very little, so I’d like to see them more often.
Teaching at a juku is very interesting. I want to continue teaching there.
Comment [5]
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