BY MINAKO KAMIO

Since 1995, we have sometimes heard the phrase ﾒclassroom collapseﾓ on TV and in newspapers. When I did a search of the word on the Internet, I found that it is happening in elementary schools all over Japan. The age of those troublesome pupils are getting younger. There is even a phrase ﾒfirst grader problems.ﾓ Why does this happen? Is this, generally speaking, due to a lack of the teacherﾕs skills, or a failure of education at home? Is there any relation to the education of the area's nursery schools and kindergartens?

Thanks to the vice-principal of an elementary school in Sapporo, three members of The Youth Forum News were allowed to observe some classes to see what is going on there. He showed us around the school and we had a talk about the present situation of elementary school education there.

First, I observed two first grade classes: In the fifteen-minute morning homeroom, there was a lot of chatting and it took about ten minutes for the teacher just to get the children to sit down and greet each other. The first period was Moral Education. In one class, a few pupils stood up and played around and ignored what the teacher said. Then, other children became noisy, too. After about half an hour of the 45 minute-class passed, they finally appeared to listen to the teacher and began the ordinary class. During recess, there were many pupils who moved around actively and nestled up to us. They began to go back to their classroom when the bell rang and their teacher came back.

Then we observed the classes above the second grade. We did not notice any problems. During this visitation, I felt that some first graders were not accustomed to sitting in chairs and listening to the teacher even though two months had passed since they began their school life. Therefore, I had an interest in finding out how long it takes them to get accustomed to school.

The vice-principal said, "Generally speaking, there are two types of kindergartens and nurseries; one gives some training for elementary school, the other lets children play freely and actively. So, the first lesson for pupils who have different personalities is to mix with each other and form a new group as a class. Such differences in pre-elementary schools may produce two types of pupils- - those who can sit and listen to their teacher from the beginning of the lesson and those who are not accustomed to such formality.

In this school they use a sysytem called "Team Teaching," where two or three teachers work together, usually in P.E and Music classes. There are other activities, too, like mixing the first grade classes with other grades. They also hold a meeting regularly to talk about school policy, aims and pupils' condition in each class. In addition, a sociable atmosphere in the teachers' room enables them to talk about their classes and about their worries without reserve. There are also many veteran teachers who have experience and know how to handle pupils. And pupils' parents are cooperative, of couse.

Although I was surprised that there were many pupils who behave like infants compared with when I was in elementary school, they will gradualy mature as they get accustomed to the school education system.

Consequently, "first grader problems" is not at all serious and "classroom collapse" is not happening in this school. It is hoped that a more progressive education as taught at this school will spread over to form a tight-knit cooperation between the school and the community, and the day will come when the words "first grader problems" will no longer be heard .