I saw my first instance of teacher abuse yesterday

[Big Booger]

In three years I haven't witnessed teacher abuse. That was while teaching at a high school.

On Friday we were outside practicing for the undokai.. (sports festival)... the girls were in the gymnasium and the boys were outside doing the pyramid building exercise.

The teacher in charge (*a judo coach), has been screaming and yelling all week.. so much so that I have gotten used to it already.

Well on Friday, one small group of boys couldn't do one of the pyramid activities. So the Judo coach comes running over yelling at them.. calling them stupid (i heard a lot of aho, and baka..) and just berating them like they were POS.

So then he targets one boy and tried to kick him.. the boy, being very small, moved completely out of his way... (I don't think kicking is a judo based activity, if it is then he must suck at judo)... he missed the boy completely and nearly fell down..

Steamed from this I take it, he targetted another boy, and drew back and smacked the shit out him... for about 10 seconds I froze. I wanted to attack that asshole, but no other teacher said a word. Even the kocho sensei (principal) didn't do anything.. They all just watched like it was part of the routine..

I turned and walked off the field and went back to the teacher's room. I don't think that kind of shit should happen. But when the principal of the school doesn't think it is wrong there is not much that I can do...

I think I am going to talk to the education board about this, because from what I gather, hitting students is against the law.. I doubt any good will become of my inquiry, but I cannot in good conscience just let that go...

Needless to say, I won't be joining the judo club, and that asshole, i hope will die a very painful death...

[AssKissinger]

Booger, those kids probably deserve it.

[Big Booger]

Booger, those kids probably deserve it.

Normally I'd agree with you, but this time, it was not so.. they didn't do anything to provoke it. They just couldn't build the pyramid as fast and as good as he wanted it.

[AssKissinger]

Booger, those kids probably deserve it.

Normally I'd agree with you, but this time, it was not so.. they didn't do anything to provoke it. They just couldn't build the pyramid as fast and as good as he wanted it.

Yeah but maybe in the class before that they were being ruthlessly mean to a 55 year old woman teacher who has been putting 12 hour days for decades and has given up having her own family even in her dedication to their education. Maybe they get up in her face and call her 'shit' and 'ugly stupid disgusting' and so on and in fact she can't even ask them to leave the class, put them in detention, suspend them, hit them or anything without risking her pension. Maybe they do that shit every fucking day and that judo coach is fucking sick of it and willing to put his ass on the line to do something about it. Maybe after only a month or so at this school you don't know fuck all about what's going on

[Big Booger]

Booger, those kids probably deserve it.

Normally I'd agree with you, but this time, it was not so.. they didn't do anything to provoke it. They just couldn't build the pyramid as fast and as good as he wanted it.

Yeah but maybe in the class before that they were being ruthlessly mean to a 55 year old woman teacher who has been putting 12 hour days for decades and has given up having her own family even in her dedication to their education. Maybe they get up in her face and call her 'shit' and 'ugly stupid disgusting' and so on and in fact she can't even ask them to leave the class, put them in detention, suspend them, hit them or anything without risking her pension. Maybe they do that shit every fucking day and that judo coach is fucking sick of it and willing to put his ass on the line to do something about it. Maybe after only a month or so at this school you don't know fuck all about what's going on

Lot of maybes in there.. but by hitting them does that make you a teacher, a better human? What example are you setting?

If that old biddy can't cut the cake, maybe she should have quit.. long ago? There comes a time in life when adults should act like adults, and not like a child.

Smacking a kid because he can't do what you ask, is not right.. regardless of all that rhetoric you wrote above.

Smacking a kid or kicking them is not the right way. A good paddle to the ass, for bad behavior, on the otherhand is quite appropriate. In this situation, regardless of whether I have been there 1 day or 20 years, it was wrong.

He could have done permanent damage, like that that has been done in the past. Abuse is abuse, regardless of what provokes it.

Regardless I am going to talk about this to the BoE. I mean, the law is there for a reason. If teachers can break the law, then how can they expect students to follow the rules?

[AssKissinger]

Why don't you be a man and talk to him about it instead of running to the BoE? But what you really ought to do is stay the fuck out of it. Really, as a tecaher there you should be jumping for joy that someone is willing to take some action against those little shitheads.

[Caustic Saint]

Why don't you be a man and talk to him about it instead of running to the BoE? But what you really ought to do is stay the fuck out of it. Really, as a tecaher there you should be jumping for joy that someone is willing to take some action against those little shitheads.

You seem to be painting all the kids at BB's school as "little shitheads." What makes you so certain they are?

[AssKissinger]

Gut instinct plus a rotten night's sleep. I don't know. The problem is, and I've said this before, and I think BB will agree with this, that there is no way at all to punish kids here that's on the up and up. You can't paddle their bottoms, you can't fail them, you can't suspend them or expell them, put them in detention, it's fucking insane. If the kids bully each other there's no discipline. If they cuss out the teacher everyday for three years nothing can be done. You can call their parents but if the parents don't do anything nothing will be done. Most kids are decent people but you get five kids who like being cunts in your face everyday and you can't do anything about it, a normal person can't handle that shit.

[cstaylor]

And does anybody wonder why "International" (read: 20th, not 18th century) schools are in hot demand for parents who can afford them?

Beating a child for undokai training... what the fuck, is it bootcamp or something? I can see it for disrupting class, but for something as worthless as a sporting event?

[Skankster]

-
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I wanted to attack that asshole...

U should have
but when crap like that takes you by suprise you really dont know what to do.

[cstaylor]

Needless to say, I won't be joining the judo club, and that asshole, i hope will die a very painful death...

Well, I hear that some village justice could be in order... just plant some child porn in his teacher locker, then call the cops.

[cstaylor]

Why don't you be a man and talk to him about it instead of running to the BoE?

Neither of those options will work. BoE is probably a bunch of cowards, and why would one gaijin's opinion about beating kids do anything?

I say plant the evidence of abuse that will get him fired.

[Charles]

My high school gym teacher in the US of A was far more abusive than anything you described.

But I think you're wrong about one thing. If you feel this way, you SHOULD join the Judo club. You know who you want as your sparring partner.

[Samurai_Jerk]

But I think you're wrong about one thing. If you feel this way, you SHOULD join the Judo club. You know who you want as your sparring partner.

Unless he's really good a judo or wrestling or something that's probably NOT a good idea.

[Andocrates]

I suggest you just let it go. There is no way you can win in this situation.

[Ketou]

Hi all.

Although abuse of students is wrong, I think for your own sake it best to either just forget it or, at least, keep it in the school.

The Japanese staff at your school will not like the ethical opinions of a gaijin who doesn't understand their culture. I'm not saying that you don't understand but guaranteed that's what they will think.

[AssKissinger]

And AK is right, and you should just let this go. Remember, this is not YOUR country and, therefore, not YOUR problem. I know you're a good guy and want to do 'the right thing' but, listen to AK man, if you want to keep your job, keep a lid on it. If you don't like it, don't want to keep your job, then just quit and go get another one. But if you go to the board with this, they very well may just decide to just put you on a plane OUT OF HERE! Think about it GAIJIN-SAN

Thanks Rob but that's not my point. A man shouldn't let fear of losing his job keep him from doing what's right. One thing I can say with pride is I never let the fear of getting the ax keep me quiet. I speak my fucking mind. And I also don't agree with that it's not our country BULLSHIT. Like you and Boogs, I live here and pay taxes. Sheeeet, we're not tourists here we're tourists back in the states. I'm just saying I bet those kids had it coming. Booger doesn't see it like that. He thinks there's a right way and a wrong way to handle things. Fair enough. It probably goes back a lot to the different kinds of shit we've both seen in this country. But Pongi we do agree on keep a lid on it, just for different reasons.

[Charles]

But I think you're wrong about one thing. If you feel this way, you SHOULD join the Judo club. You know who you want as your sparring partner.

Unless he's really good a judo or wrestling or something that's probably NOT a good idea.

From the story, it doesn't appear that the Coach is very good at Judo either. It's my experience that high school coaches are wimps who can't pick on people their own size, they need a captive audience of kiddies to abuse.

And I bet AK has a foot and 25 lbs over the coach. GAIJIN HULK SMASH JUDO COACH.

[AssKissinger]

And I bet AK has a foot and 25 lbs over the coach. GAIJIN HULK SMASH JUDO COACH.

YEAH! If I was Booger I'd have beat the shit of the coach and the kids and said 'There's a new chief in this motherfucker!!!' And then I'd kick fuckin' Pongi's ass

[Samurai_Jerk]

From the story, it doesn't appear that the Coach is very good at Judo either. It's my experience that high school coaches are wimps who can't pick on people their own size, they need a captive audience of kiddies to abuse.

And I bet AK has a foot and 25 lbs over the coach. GAIJIN HULK SMASH JUDO COACH.

How does that story tell you anything about the guy's judo skill?

Actually, the PE teachers at the high school I taught at were pretty fucking big. One guy use to be an all Japan volley ball player and was probably about 6'4" and ripped. The judo coach was pretty good sized too and would have mopped the floor with most people.

[Big Booger]

Oh he is bigger than average. That is not the point. While I wanted to go up and drop kick him or at least punch him in the back of the head, I would lose my job, be made an example of, and might spend a little while in the slammer.

I could "be a man" and call him on it. I've spent about a month around this guy and he is loud and annoying. I don't think he "thinks" much.. more like the apeman mentality..

I just talked to some other gaijin teachers and they said to just let it go too. My wife says I should at least tell the BoE.

he problem is, and I've said this before, and I think BB will agree with this, that there is no way at all to punish kids here that's on the up and up. You can't paddle their bottoms, you can't fail them, you can't suspend them or expell them, put them in detention, it's fucking insane. If the kids bully each other there's no discipline. If they cuss out the teacher everyday for three years nothing can be done. You can call their parents but if the parents don't do anything nothing will be done. Most kids are decent people but you get five kids who like being cunts in your face everyday and you can't do anything about it, a normal person can't handle that shit.

I can and do agree with that. But as I stated before, this time there was no need to assault those kids.. it was a fucking training session outside... in training you are going to make mistakes.. that is how you improve... this guy is a tard and he deserves to be punished.

The child porn thing would be hilarious.. I'd feel all warm and fuzzy inside if he got busted LOL BUt that is evil.

In the states I'd have gotten him fired already.. I thought about contacting the newspaper. They are so dry of news that something like this might really get their attention.

What really angered me even more was the fact that no other teacher did anything about it.. I was infuriated by that.... fucking shitbags.

The Japanese staff at your school will not like the ethical opinions of a gaijin who doesn't understand their culture. I'm not saying that you don't understand but guaranteed that's what they will think.

This isn't a cultural mores, it is breaking the law.

Corporal punishment at school is legally prohibited in Japan. The first law prohibiting it was passed in 1879, 118 years ago, when a western-style education system was first introduced. However, it was repealed in 1885. It was reinstated in 1980, repealed again in 1900, and then reinstated in 1941 during the war period. These legal reversals occurred each time the education system was changed.

Therefore, since the 1940's, and particularly after WW2, when the American education system was reintroduced, corporal punishment has been continuously legally prohibited. This occurred much earlier than in the other developed countries. (Table 2) Especially in 1948, the Ministry of Justice announced that striking, punching, or kicking children, or making them kneel or stand straight and rigid for a long period, or refusing permission for them to visit the lavatory or eat lunch, were all specifically prohibited. Yet, while corporal punishment is therefore legally prohibited in Japan, this type of punishment still occurs in this country.

I am not one who believes in letting kids get the run of you.. I believe in punishment, and I believe in physical punishment, however barbaric it may seem, it works. I am firmly against abuse.. and smacking a kid in the head/face, kicking them is abuse.

Hitting their ass with a paddle, X number of times is not abuse. That is punishment. And the crime should fit the punishment.

I also believe that a disinterested third party should be the one to dole out the punishment. This solves mainly the problem with anger getting involved in the punishment phase.

I also believe in dentention and in school suspension. I am firmly against suspension (that's just a free day at home to fart around)..

I would never hit a kid like that man hit that kid on Friday.. never. He's scum in my opinion.

[Faded]

Here's an alternate approach.

If you know who the kid is, see if you can meet with his parents. Explain what happened, as you did here, pointing out the kid didn't do anything wrong, Apologize for the other teachers actions (very nihonjin), and leave the ball in their court. Let them decide what course of action to take. If they complain, would hold more weight, and might actually get something done. If they decide to do nothing, chances are that that teacher isn't the only thing that's gonna f*ck up the kid.

[AssKissinger]

What really angered me even more was the fact that no other teacher did anything about it.. I was infuriated by that.... fucking shitbags

But Boogie, that does give credence to my idea that there's things going on you don't understand. And there's something else, you know, that smoking thread you said you were gonna check up on the rules at BoE and all that. Maybe you just have a hard-on for seeing yourself as doing something heroic for these kids. Maybe the new environment has got you feeling emotional. But it wouldn't surprise me at all if getting roughed up a bit by their coach was just what the doctor ordered. I mean if a kid really gets hurt and has to go to a clinic the coach'll be fucked and if a kid wasn't really hurt then no big lines were crossed.

[tonikoro]

It's too bad you didn't whip out a ketai with a camera (ala foma or Vodephone) and record the evidence. try sending that to the school board, or better the parents.

-You know there was a situation not too long ago similar to this.
A high school teacher got filmed by Cel phone as he beat the shit out a kid in the head till he was bleeding.

[Ketou]

The Japanese staff at your school will not like the ethical opinions of a gaijin who doesn't understand their culture. I'm not saying that you don't understand but guaranteed that's what they will think.

This isn't a cultural mores, it is breaking the law.

Agreed. But, if like you said, other staff were watching and did and continue to do nothing then to them it is not such a legal issue as a moral one.
I'm not saying I agree with this. I do not. The guy is a scumbag and needs sorting out.
But.......... I just think it a good idea to weigh up your own position because if you rock their little boat then it will have adverse consequences.

I think Faded's last idea is a great one.

I fully support your quest for justice.
Luck.

[Big Booger]

It's too bad you didn't whip out a ketai with a camera (ala foma or Vodephone) and record the evidence. try sending that to the school board, or better the parents.

-You know there was a situation not too long ago similar to this.
A high school teacher got filmed by Cel phone as he beat the shit out a kid in the head till he was bleeding.

Never even thought of that.

If I knew the kid, I would talk to him about it. But I don't. I've only been there for about a month. And I haven't taught but 7 classes.

AK what could possibly be going on to allow the breaking of a law so openly? I broke the law in my speeding thread.. and I wasn't given an ounce of leeway.

This guy openly assaults a kid and nothing is done about it. The point is that the teacher broke the law. Had he hurt the kid, I wouldn't even waste my time thinking about it. I'd contact whoever needed to be contacted.

Should I just let it go if he molested some kid and I walked in? Maybe the kid wanted to have sex with him? Maybe the kid loves him? Should I just bow down and walk away? Maybe that is a cultural issue?

Or what if a teacher gives alcohol to a kid? Should I just laugh it up and pretend it is a cultural thing?

These examples are absurd. The point is, at what point does "culture" stop being the excuse?

There is a huge difference between legal and moral. He violated both IMHO. And the funny thing about Japanese is if the Alpha male says jump, they all jump. God forbid some of them think differently than the herd.

I know some of them didn't like it. I could see it in their eyes.. but did they say a word? hell no!

LAME!

[Faded]

This is purely to play devil's advocate and no offense BB

I know some of them didn't like it. I could see it in their eyes.. but did they say a word? hell no!

You didn't either. Could be that they are having the same conversation with their wives or bartender.

Doubtful. but..........

[tonikoro]

You know BB,

I teach at an interior and kenchiku design senmon gakko as a koushi, and one time I witnessed a teacher yelling at a kid. The only think that struck me as kind of messed up was the open and non-discreet method of yelling at him in public while further demoralizing the young man. Granted I've had this kid in one of my color theory class, he's a bit of a goof, but the approach that had been taken by said faculty was for sure not the most intelligent. -I guess "Talk softly and carry a big stick" has not crossed the pacific just here and yet.

Bottom line, if that judo-sensei had hit one of the kids in such a way as to leave marks or cause serious injury, that would have the best leagal standing one would thing.

[Big Booger]

This is purely to play devil's advocate and no offense BB

I know some of them didn't like it. I could see it in their eyes.. but did they say a word? hell no!

You didn't either. Could be that they are having the same conversation with their wives or bartender.

Doubtful. but..........

No I walked off the field while they stood there. It was my one act.. and as has been stated, I am a gaijin, I have been at that school less than 1 month.. If I vocalize to them what I think about their methods, do you honestly think I'll be taken seriously?

[Samurai_Jerk]

He smacked the kid. Nobody got hurt. No big deal. Why are we turning into a world of pussies? I saw worse. The baseball coach at the high school I taught at gabbed the crotch of some kids pants. I don't think he really sqeezed his balls, just the pants. But it's the thought that counts. And this was in the teachers room in front of everyone. That was after cracking him over ther head with a thick rolled up magazine. All the kid did was try to hold back a laugh. He seemed to think it was fucking funny. BTW, this kid was a little shit that probably needed to be slapped around. The crotch grabbing was fucking weird though. And comparing a smack to the head with sexual assault is a red herring.