July 7, 2001

Hello All!

Lots of things happening since the 3rd, so here it goes:

On Wednesday, July 3rd, I went to Sankakuyama Elementary School for the morning. First hour, the 6th graders and I played dodge ball outside (me in dress clothes and shoes!) where I had 3 very sweet young men try to tell me the rules both in Japanese and English...and who were very protective of me when someone tried to get me `out`. In second hour, I joined 40+ 1st graders and taught them the English words to banana, tomato, apple, orange, addition (plus), subtraction (minus), and a few numbers. Then, we played `fruit basket` where the name of the fruit (in English) was said and that group of students had to find an empty chair...person who didn’t was in middle and called out another name or `fruit basket` in which everyone had to find a new chair...lots of fun, especially with such cute children. Third and Fourth hour was spent with 2nd graders. I got a lot of `what’s this in English? ` questions! They were growing radishes and were to pick, clean, paint what it looked like, then eat it. There were 3 very strong female personalities in this class who pulled me in 3 different directions and wanted to be my new buddies. As we went to pick the radishes, they wanted me to sing...so I started the A=B=C song in English...which they finished then did in Japanese. After we picked the radishes, we headed back to the classroom where one of the `strong personalities` got so excited to show me her crawfish in its container that she dropped it...and broke the container. Water and crawfish went all over the floor...but I was amazed that her classmates immediately went to get the mop, bucket, and towels and helped her clean it up...almost before the teacher came. I joined the other class while the cleanup was completed (and I’m sure a small lecture) then we went to the home ec room for the radish party.... them in their apron shirts and hats or bandana. (Too cute but forgot the camera!) I must have eaten about 20 radishes of various sizes because several picked extra’s for `Jamie-sensei`. After that, we had lunch and I joined about 8 others where the questions continued. When I left, there were about 70 hugs. The principal gave me Japanese calligraphy print, which I will bring home for framing.

Teams from both sides gather together and chant a word of encouragement 

Boys basketball game

MJHS cheering section

Girl's basketball game

MJHS girls basketball team

I returned to my school and watched basketball games at the first of Sports Days. Girl’s were beat but boys won...both to play on Thursday. Ms. Yamada and I then left at 4:30. early for us. and went to the 100\ store (our version of the Dollar General Store). I was just looking away when I felt this tug and my pant leg, only to look down and see this cute little guy that I had lunch with.... he turned, ran to his mother, and said, `Jamie-sensei!`, which caused nearly everyone in that part of the store to bow...love the way `sensei’s` are respected around here! That night, Ms. Yamada and I were joined by two other teachers at a Yakotori restaurant...chicken and veggies grilled on a stick...very good! When I returned to the Guest House about 10:30pm, I was exhausted!

Thursday was mostly basketball games all day long.... watched possibly the best girl’s basketball team I’ve EVER seen played.  9th graders from a private school who were All-Japan for 2 years in a row (like our state tourney winner). They could beat any of our high school teams and some of our guys! Scored 100 points on the team in the final...and could have had 30 more. Our boys lost by 12 in the final. Amazing thing is that they practice since school began in March only for these 2 days...after that, there is no more basketball, volleyball, tennis, table tennis, kendo, soccer, or baseball. If they don’t win, they don’t get to compete in the all Sapporo city championship. and their season is over. Needless to say, it was a very sad day on Friday!

I, however, spent most of the day at Nishi High School, the newest and one of the top 3 in the city. (Kerry, they have document readers and projectors in every classroom...along with electric curtains and screens all controlled in one small corner of the classroom) I was met by one of the vice-principals, who took me to meet the principal then began the tour. This school has several outstanding graduates who have written books, are famous artists, etc. and who have donated some of their work and money for facilities. The building is 5 years old, but the school is one of the first in Sapporo. 80% of their students participate in sports such as gymnastics, kendo, judo, volleyball, basketball, baseball, soccer, and tennis. 85% of their students go to college, and they average 2/year that attend college in the US. Most counseling is for career and college guidance only...the nurse seems to handle most of the personal counseling. Again, the student’s stay in the same room and the teachers move...class size is 40 per class. They have computer rooms, but aren’t used because teachers are not comfortable with using them yet.

I visited with a couple of teachers who taught English, although not all spoke it. The first was a 2nd year teacher...very nice young lady who was very honest in her thoughts. She graduated from a local university and was placed here (local schools do not hire...colleges place the graduates where openings are anywhere in the country...she explained that to become a teacher you must attend college and pass a test (much like us) but it didn’t have to be a particular subject. They are well educated in all subjects. We observed a choir (this site is well known for its fine arts / music and is having a major concert on the 29th of the month in which many famous performers from around the world come to attend) a calligraphy class, and an art (drawing) class. I was then whisked to a classroom to watch a World History teacher explain about the Civil War and Gettysburg Address...with a little Trail of Tears thrown in. He is the co-author of a book used by the students to prepare for their big test (spoke of in earlier email) and gave me a copy of the textbook and outline book to bring back for you to see. I don’t understand Japanese but I understood everything he was explaining...just an excellent teacher. Another English teacher came to get me and we went to the English department area for teachers, where we discussed more Counseling issues than educational issues. He said that it is the feeling in Japan that whatever was happening in the US would happen here within 5 years...and after asking around that seems to be true. He explained about child abuse increases (although like us it was always there before it was spotlighted) and students changing the color of their hair, etc. to be different. Not complaining but observing...and wondering what we did when situations occured. A third English teacher then showed me video of their graduations, class trips, welcoming ceremony for new 10th graders (who looked scared to death!), and their version of sports day (more like intramural day). After completing the tour, Ms. Yamada picked me up we returned to the school. A front came in, much like one of our Northerners in the winter, and dropped the temperature about 20 degrees, along with a little rain. Nice break from the 85 degree heat and high humidity (Before you say it...it know that’s not hot. I’ve not complained but they sure have!)

That night, 4 other MTP US participants and their Japanese partners came to down for today’s Regional meeting. 3 of the 4 joined Yoshi and I at a Karaoke Box.... a room where you can eat, drink from soft drinks to other beverages, and sing to your hearts content in a soundproof room. THAT`s the way to do it - no embarrassment when among friends! Yoshi sang (VERY well) a song by a Japanese artist named Moishe...the song was one that I heard at the traditional dance and remarked that I liked...and Yoshi and one of the teachers at the school burned the CD for me. A couple of the other Japanese partners sang as well...and we 4 piped in with a little Motown, Nat King Cole, Carpenters, and Patti Page. We all enjoyed ourselves...we’ve got the video to prove it! We then went for Miso Ramen noodles (nice and warm on a cool evening!) then subway back to the hotel, where Yoshi and I dropped off the guest then headed home.

Brenda, Karen, and their FMF mates at Susinko

Karoake box...no embarrassment among friends!

Yoshi singing "Beautiful', the song I admired at the traditional dance

Susinko

Hokkaido FMF participants

Kyoko Jones talking with the media

Mr. Dobashi at the meeting

Hokkaido participants talking to newspapers and media

Yamada and Yoshi at news event

Today (Saturday), was the regional meeting. Yoshi picked me up and we went to school for a while (grades go out today), where I confirmed what I had thought was going on...there is a student who is being physically abused by a stepfather. The way they handle it here is that the homeroom teacher calls the mother and recommends family counseling, but the teacher has no rights to interfere with family matters other than letting them know that the teachers know what is going on. There is no legal action that can be taken. Needless to say, that generated quite a discussion on the way to downtown to meet Kyoko Jones of JUSEC/FMF and the others. Later in the morning, we held a videoconference with two other sites...where all other MTP US teachers/partners were gathered. Great to see everyone and talk to a few of them. The Superintendent of Sapporo schools joined us and seemed impressed with the entire set up. He’s got many plans for this system and was a former FMF person himself, so he knows the value of the program. The US group, Yoshi, and one other Japanese partner then went to eat Italian (there is a good chain of restaurants in Sapporo if you can find them) then returned for the `big` meeting...had press and a few Sapporo teachers as well. This one was held mainly in Japanese. Afterwards, Yoshi, Ms. Yamada, and another US/Japan participant went to the electronics store, but all of their supply was only for Japanese...no world versions. Ms. Yamada and I then went to eat and hit a supermarket for some supplies.

I’ve insisted that they take tomorrow off from me...they wanted to do things but I can tell that they are tired and need a break, and truth be known, so do I. I go to Ookurayama Elementary School
on Monday morning, then the rest of the week will be used to observe and hopefully finalize plans for the pair project. Next Saturday, Yoshi and I are going to see the lavender fields in the middle of the island, and my last week here is only half days so we plan to do a little more sightseeing and probably shopping! Had to buy another small suitcase today and may have to mail home some stuff already!

The days are going by quickly, and it will be hard to leave. I have grown very fond of the staff and students of this school, and have been treated like royalty. It will be an experience I shall long remember and treasure, and I hope to be able to come back in the future...and for them to come to Oklahoma soon.