Abe elected as new Japan premier

[number9 0]

Remember that the Japanese Teachers Union heavily back the Socialist and Communist parties. I don't know of any other developed nation where the national anthem and the flag is reviled by a rather politically influential body like the JTU.

 

Anyways, concern about decreasing performance in international standardized tests from what they suspect as the new more relaxed educational systems is not unique to Japan.

 

I don't totall disagree with you guys, but just presenting the other side.

[daver 0]

I agree that the educational system here is in desperate need for reform. I just don't believe the current reforms have anything to do with increasing student performance, but everything to do with segregating the haves from the have-nots and creating docile, uncreative, servile, uber patriotic slaves.

 

If the new house was actually concerned about the performance of their youth, they might consider looking at more results then simply international test results for 15yr olds. Like for instance; where does Japan sit internationally for percentage of students, opting out of school for stress related reasons? how many students continue on to high school? how many high school students continue to post secondary education, and then graduate work? where do Japan's post secondary institutions rank in the world? No, these reforms are only concerned with appealing to old stodgy conservatives.

 

The JTU may have backed the Socialist and Communist parties, but then again, what were their other options? The Sakura Kai? Because current teachers were educated in a era before history censorship, the JTU understands the role education had in indoctrinating and mobilizing youth during the early Showa era. I suspect the JTU does not revile the national anthem, nor the flag, but rather, legislation that dictates compulsory nationalistic displays.

[Ocean11 0]

> I don't know of any other developed nation where the national anthem and the flag is reviled by a rather politically influential body like the JTU.

 

In the developed nation that I came from, I hardly ever had to look at our national rag or sing Heave-ho the Queen, so not doing it wasn't an issue. It's only in stupid countries where people forget where they are that they have to do that sort of silly-bollocks.

[soubriquet 0]

In the developed society you came from, we used to sing a school hymn.

 

"Onward Christian soldiers,

onward on to War.

With the cross of Jesus,

Going on before."

 

I have forgotten the rest.

[Ocean11 0]

> onward on to War.

 

marching as to war

 

Yes we sang that too, at primary school. By early secondary school, I could look back and see what a load of manipulative rot it was. I daresay other people did too.

 

I really sympathise with the Japanese teachers' unions and I used to be a member of one. I think they're right to fight any hint of nationalism in education, because nationalism never brings anything of value, ever.

 

Education needs to be reviewed. I don't know exactly where my son's education is pointing, but it has quite a strong agricultural element to it, and a slight flavour of regionalism (which I much prefer to nationalism).

[soubriquet 0]

Yes, thanks for the correction. It's been a long time, and my memory was no good then. Age hasn't improved it.

 

"Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel". Samuel Johnson.

[daver 0]

here in the next installment of the Japantimes Abe series. i find this even more shocking. not so much his policies on gender rights, they are as transparent as can be. but rather, that he is resoundingly popular amongst women in this country. could it be? is it actually possible that the women of japan care more about what brand name hangs over their shoulder than the direction of their country and being bound to servitude?