Questions regarding elementary school in Japan

[TimesUp]

Hello. I'm new here kinda. I have been lurking for a probably over a year. This is by far the best site of its kind. But since I wasnt in Japan at the time and didnt have anything productive to say I didnt bother posting....just enjoyed reading.

Anyways I have lived in Japan for about 2 1/2 years total but havent been back other than vacation in three years. During that time My wife and I now have a daughter who will be three in December. We plan to relocate back to Fukuoka shortly after the new year. I am concerned about my daughter and her schooling. Anybody else on here have kids? know someone who does? that are attending elementary school? I am a little worried about a few things. She is quite intelligent and is speaking equal amounts of japanese and english but im wondering if she will fit in at the kindergarten age. The worst thing I could do is put my daughter in a situation that is not beneficial to her. My wife assures me that everything will be o.k. but im wondering what other peoples experience is........In your opinion do Japanese kids enjoy their school life? Are half Japanese kids discrimnated against? I have heard some stories about this but havent heard of any occurences in the Fukuoak area. Im sorry if these are dumb questions but I genuinly am asking for imput. My first post could have been way worse like "If I come To Japan Am I Guaranteed To Get Laid?"

[GuyJean]

"If I come To Japan Am I Guaranteed To Get Laid?"

If you bring your wife. ]http://www.tokyowithkids.com[/url]

Others can help you with personal stories.. I don't have any yet..

GJ

[dimwit]

I am concerned about my daughter and her schooling. Anybody else on here have kids? know someone who does? that are attending elementary school? I am a little worried about a few things. She is quite intelligent and is speaking equal amounts of japanese and english but im wondering if she will fit in at the kindergarten age. The worst thing I could do is put my daughter in a situation that is not beneficial to her. My wife assures me that everything will be o.k. but im wondering what other peoples experience is........In your opinion do Japanese kids enjoy their school life? Are half Japanese kids discrimnated against?

Kindergartens do vary in quality and character. Some private kindergartens are first rate, but expect to pay more. It is a good idea to scout out the various local kindergartens to find out what they offer. My son went to a Christian Kindergarten and had a great time. Discrimation was not an issue. Most kids at that age are curious, but haven't formed many value judgements. Good Luck

[TimesUp]

Thanks alot for the info. I have been doing some research and found a nice kindergarten that is christian and is linked to the elementary school/high school/and college all the same institution in Fukuoka. That so far sounds pretty good I guess the best thing is to probably visit these schools and check it out but since I am there I cant stop worrying. I would hate to have made a poor decision and have my daughter suffer because of it. We live in upstate new york now and for my wife and I its terrible lack of jobs/things to do/public transportation. We feel we need to get back in the city problem we have among others is taking her away from my mom who is just about as great of a grandma to her as any, and planting her in Japan. I think we're better off in the long run but who knows. ok im rambling thanx to those who offered info. Take Care!

[cstaylor]

If I was in your position, I wouldn't do it. Thought about moving someplace else in the U.S. first? California is a nice place, weather is wonderful year-round, and there are plenty of "halfu" children, so that kind of discrimination doesn't occur very much at all.

Fukuoka is uyouku country, so I would hesitate to move there. Plus it's podunk central... all the action is in Tokyo, Yokohama, and Osaka.

[TimesUp]

Sorry but what is podunk central?

The city of Fukuoka I have found to be a very nice place to live that isnt the problem having studied at a university in the city and lived there for 2 1/2 years I actually prefer it to any other city in Japan. as far as California goes I live in New York and have lived in Boston im an east coaster If im stuck in the U.S. im not leaving the North East. In 2003 I had an excellent oppurtunity to go on tour in Japan playing clubs in Nagoya/Sapporo/Tokyo/Nagoya/Yokosuka/Shizuoka/and Osaka and I can honestly say no place has appealed to me more than Fukuoka has.

[IkemenTommy]

Are half Japanese kids discrimnated against?

You've started a whole new discussion on this topic. I think it is safe to say that most Japanese discriminate anything that is foreign or not purely Japanese. At least that's how it was when I was younger so my parents made my brother and me go to a private school in Tokyo. There were couple of threads on here about Japanese being racist sexist homophobic bigot, etc.

Private schools in Japan, or anywhere for that matter, are expensive. Some employers pay for some, if not all, of the tuition but it can easily run over 1 million yen a year! But if you want your kids to be part of the elite crowd and avoid some of the f*cked up shits that are happening in the Japanese education system, then it might be for you.

I think the reason why you want to have your daughter back in Japan is to give the exposure of the Japanese language and have her bilingual. These days, they have J-school programs in big cities like New York and Boston. Those might be an option as well.

[cstaylor]

Sorry but what is podunk central?

Any place in Kyuushu would qualify as "podunk central", but that's just one man's opinion.

as far as California goes I live in New York and have lived in Boston im an east coaster If im stuck in the U.S. im not leaving the North East.

Well, you can't beat the California climate, as long as you have a job and can afford to live there. Maybe you should give that a try before moving 5,000 miles away to live where you have very few opportunities unless you speak very good Japanese or your wife's parents are loaded.

[TimesUp]

Are half Japanese kids discrimnated against?

I think the reason why you want to have your daughter back in Japan is to give the exposure of the Japanese language and have her bilingual. These days, they have J-school programs in big cities like New York and Boston. Those might be an option as well.

The main reason for us returning to Japan is mostly my wifes eagerness to get out of here and return home to Japan. We were looking before at the possibilities of a Japanese program for our daughter Boston has only a weekend prgram and in New York they have a day school but its so expensive the school has priced their program so thats it smainly for wealthy Japanese who are working in the NYC area and dont their kids going to NYC public schools (who could blame them?)

In Japan I dont think there is a shortage of oppurtunity I never had a problem making money while I was there even as a student. I think some people limit themsleves thinking teaching english is the only way which I have managed to avoid and will continue to do so. My only real concern was the education for my daughter and nothing else. As I said before Fukuoka is quite suitable for my family having lived in NYC where I paid $1,500 for a whole in the wall in Brooklyn and in Boston paying $1,350 for another whole in the wall 1 bedroom. I can get a 2LDK/3LDK in Fukuoka for 80,000 to 95,000 easily. I know alot of other things are expensive in Japan but the cost of living in Fukuoka is quite attractive compared to my other options.

[dimwit]

Are half Japanese kids discrimnated against?

I think the reason why you want to have your daughter back in Japan is to give the exposure of the Japanese language and have her bilingual. These days, they have J-school programs in big cities like New York and Boston. Those might be an option as well.

I disagree. J-school programs will not make a kid bilingual. Constant exposure to a another language will especially at a young age.

Fukuoka is uyouku country, so I would hesitate to move there. Plus it's podunk central... all the action is in Tokyo, Yokohama, and Osaka.

Fukaoka is not a bad place to live. While I have never been to Yokohama and don't know Tokyo well enough to make any judgements, but Osaka is a dump. The 'action' you likely to find there is noise, grime, oppressive heat in summer, high rent and rudeness of the locals.

My only real concern was the education for my daughter and nothing else.

At the age of three she will probably fit in better than you'd think. The only discrimination directed towards my son has been from children of slum dwellers.

[cstaylor]

The main reason for us returning to Japan is mostly my wifes eagerness to get out of here and return home to Japan

Uh-oh.

My suggestion: keep enough money available that you can purchase a ticket home if things go sideways.

[Big Booger]

I'd personally put your child in a private school rather than public... Though as has been stated on here, you will pay for it.

[cstaylor]

[quote="Big Booger"]I'd personally put your child in a private school rather than public... Though as has been stated on here, you will pay for it. ]And that's coming from an ex-public school teacher.

[dimwit]

[quote="Big Booger"]I'd personally put your child in a private school rather than public... Though as has been stated on here, you will pay for it. ]

Private kindergartens are not necessarily so expensive, and since public kindergarten costs depend on your income, in our case it was probably just as cheap to send him to a privatge kindergarten and get a better quality education.

[TimesUp]

The main reason for us returning to Japan is mostly my wifes eagerness to get out of here and return home to Japan

Uh-oh.

My suggestion: keep enough money available that you can purchase a ticket home if things go sideways.

Im not worried about this my wife is very reasonable and shes not going anywhere neither am I. Also I have a daughter who I love more than anything on earth the idea of escaping even if her mother became a raging bitch isnt one im willing to entertain. But I appreciate your concern I have heard some horror stories in fact, A close friend of mine is having a hell of a time with his wife and has his eye on the door but id like to think I have a winner. I suppose if she was going to freak out it woudl have happened already with all the shit we have been through and after being pregnant in a foreign country, no friends, etc etc

[FG Lurker]

My daughter is 5 and has been in a typical (although not cheap!) Japanese pre-school for the last 2.5 years. She loves it! There have been few if any problems and she has many friends.

She starts elementary school from next year. The public elementary school that is in our area has a good reputation so we're going to send her there and see what happens. I'm not worried about it really, but if for some reason things really don't work out then I will deal with it at that time.

I haven't thought about JHS or HS yet -- it's still 6 years away and who knows where I will be or what I will be doing in 6 years. I do know that for university she will be attending one outside Japan, most likely in Canada.

[FG Lurker]

Fukaoka is not a bad place to live. While I have never been to Yokohama and don't know Tokyo well enough to make any judgements, but Osaka is a dump. The 'action' you likely to find there is noise, grime, oppressive heat in summer, high rent and rudeness of the locals.

Oi! I resemble that remark!

I've been in Osaka about 11 years now and I wouldn't live anywhere else in Japan. (Well, no other urban area!)

[IkemenTommy]

It seems like you want to live in Japan no matter what the situation may be. Fukuoka is a fine place to live, though podunk compared to Tokyo or Osaka as someone said it earlier. I've been there once and some fine food and gals there. Nakasu is almost the equivalent Shibooyah and there is a semi-international air port as well.

[cstaylor]

Im not worried about this my wife is very reasonable and shes not going anywhere neither am I. Also I have a daughter who I love more than anything on earth the idea of escaping even if her mother became a raging bitch isnt one im willing to entertain. But I appreciate your concern I have heard some horror stories in fact, A close friend of mine is having a hell of a time with his wife and has his eye on the door but id like to think I have a winner.

Okay, as long as you've got both eyes open. How is your relationship with the in-laws?

[TimesUp]

Im not worried about this my wife is very reasonable and shes not going anywhere neither am I. Also I have a daughter who I love more than anything on earth the idea of escaping even if her mother became a raging bitch isnt one im willing to entertain. But I appreciate your concern I have heard some horror stories in fact, A close friend of mine is having a hell of a time with his wife and has his eye on the door but id like to think I have a winner.

Okay, as long as you've got both eyes open. How is your relationship with the in-laws?

It's gotten better although im not going to lie they arent too fond of me. But they adore my daughter so I can live with them not liking me. They live about an hour outside the city anyways. In the past we saw very little of them. Except gramps owns some real estate and if we end up living in one of his apartment buildings I have a feeling he will be dropping by a little more often.

Someone else metioned above that it seems I have my mind set in moving to Japan which is true I've lived their, went to school there the so called honeymoon phase is over I can deal with the negatives of the country and I definately enjoy the positives. The one thing I really was in the dark about was my daughters education which is a matter I take seriously so I appreciate all the people who have commented thus far.

[cstaylor]

It's gotten better although im not going to lie they arent too fond of me. But they adore my daughter so I can live with them not liking me.

Sorry to be the paranoid pessimist, but have you considered that your in-laws may influence your wife to divorce you and keep your daughter? Once divorced, staying in Japan would be very difficult without a visa, and there's almost no enforcement of visitation in Japan AFAIK.

[james]

It's gotten better although im not going to lie they arent too fond of me. But they adore my daughter so I can live with them not liking me.

Sorry to be the paranoid pessimist, but have you considered that your in-laws may influence your wife to divorce you and keep your daughter? Once divorced, staying in Japan would be very difficult without a visa, and there's almost no enforcement of visitation in Japan AFAIK.

paranoid is maybe not the best approach but certainly one i can understand if you're a father attached to his children (as any normal father should be). definitely good advice to keep your eyes open and stay appraised of the situation.

definitely check this out:

http://www.crnjapan.com/en/

[TimesUp]

It's gotten better although im not going to lie they arent too fond of me. But they adore my daughter so I can live with them not liking me.

Sorry to be the paranoid pessimist, but have you considered that your in-laws may influence your wife to divorce you and keep your daughter? Once divorced, staying in Japan would be very difficult without a visa, and there's almost no enforcement of visitation in Japan AFAIK.

I have read the horror stories even know of a few myself. Without going into details about my wife all I can say is that im pretty confident in my relationship. I think people marry way too fast without fully knowing what they are getting into. I didnt meet my wife at some seedy bar where I was drunk and looking to get laid. I went to the same university and my wife is quite intelligent. Her family has no intentions of influencing my wife so that she will divorce me theres not even a 1% chance of that happening. Again without going into my wifes business in detail I will say that the relationship between my wife and her parents isnt the greatest but civil. It could be alot worse and I guess I should clarify its the grandparents that dont really like me her mom and dad are fine with it. What positive would even come of that? In the Japanese eyes is a single mother with a child more accepted than a Mother who has a nice family life and happens to be married to a gaijin? Im not even concerned with the answer to that question to tell you the truth. Regarding the comment above about visitation in the event of a divorce brings me to my original point that when this happens to people what is teh motivation for the woman to leave the relationship? Perhaps people married to quickly? From my observations and from a couple cases that I have witnessed directly is many times some FG will meet some Japanese chick and the relationship is something new to both of them. They fuck like animals and everythning seems cool so they decide to take it a step further without really fully understanding each other and once the reality of living and being married to a non Japanese and being exposed to the troubles of this marriage. Add that to possible communication/cultural problems and I think some woman will bail. My apologies for the run on sentences.

[AssKissinger]

I didnt meet my wife at some seedy bar where I was drunk and looking to get laid.

loser

[Big Booger]

I'd personally put your child in a private school rather than public... Though as has been stated on here, you will pay for it. ]

Private kindergartens are not necessarily so expensive, and since public kindergarten costs depend on your income, in our case it was probably just as cheap to send him to a privatge kindergarten and get a better quality education.

Dimwit you really do get what you pay for in education. Oh sure you might find a decent school for your kid at a cheap rate, but I'd rather not go cheap on my kids.

There are several private schools that do cost a bundle compared to public education...

Elementary schools in Japan are free. You pay book fees, school lunch *kyushoku, etc...

Junior high fees are nearly the same as elementary.

As for kindergarten fees, I have no knowledge as I never taught at one except when asked occassionally by the principal's of the yochien.

High school, is where they start charging you a school fee, and usually have school cafeteria, plus uniforms, books and so on...

If you do put your children in a public school, make sure you meet with the teachers and staff. Get in on the PTA, attend parental meetings and volunteer as needed... The more involved you are the better off your kids will be treated... at least that is what I saw while teaching.

With private education, your child will be open to a more diverse student body *usually, specialty lessons designed for children of a biracial background, more involved lessons and smaller numbers of students.

Check the teacher to student ratio, school facilities, accreditation, meet with the all the teachers and staff and interview them as if you were hiring them for a job.. ask about their teaching background, their credentials and so on... they will be more than happy to provide you with copies of their certs and so on.

Many private schools will set up a payment plan for you as well.

I think if you want your kids to have an international perspective send them to a private school. If you want a robot, go public

[AssKissinger]

If you do put your children in a public school, make sure you meet with the teachers and staff. Get in on the PTA, attend parental meetings and volunteer as needed... The more involved you are the better off your kids will be treated... at least that is what I saw while teaching.

I was gonna say the same thing. Teachers really are nicer to kids when they know their parents. It's a kind of human nature I guess.

[dimwit]

My recent involvement with the PTA
http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12164
has left me somewhat reluctant to be very involved with them. Being involved in the community and with your nedighbors is better as these are the people that will generally stand up for you and your children. Under those circumstanced being in a smaller town or city is actually a better option as you are more likely to know you neighbors.

As for schools, my own advice is the smaller the better. My son is attending a public school but with only 25 students in a class the it means alot more individual attention and I think less likelhood of bullying. In Matsuyama, the only non-public option is the University sponsored school that was 40 kids a class.

[Big Booger]

My recent involvement with the PTA
http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12164
has left me somewhat reluctant to be very involved with them. Being involved in the community and with your nedighbors is better as these are the people that will generally stand up for you and your children. Under those circumstanced being in a smaller town or city is actually a better option as you are more likely to know you neighbors.

As for schools, my own advice is the smaller the better. My son is attending a public school but with only 25 students in a class the it means alot more individual attention and I think less likelhood of bullying. In Matsuyama, the only non-public option is the University sponsored school that was 40 kids a class.

Dimwit your PTA experience is typical... and I have never seen them hand out batons and handcuffs on a school patrol

What do you expect, it's the PTA... not Starsky And Hutch... LMAO.

I agree the community involvement and being neighborly are all helpful. As well the smaller the school the better, but you got to be careful. Your teacher pickings are slim with a smaller school and if your kid gets put in a turd teacher's class... there's not a lot you can do about that.

[sdskinner]

I have 2 kids in elementary and 2 in Junior high. They have also gone to school in the States for a year and said that they like the American schools better(they are more fun). But they also said that the American schools were easier. I think that Japan has fairly good schools but that starting in Junior High some problems begin to develop. They begin to push the students very hard and seem to give a little to much homework. The homework is often just busy work. In summer vacation they have to do a bunch of homework etc. But my biggest complaint is the club system. I just hate. The Junior High students have to choose a club which they attend after school. The club is actually optional but the students are pressured to attend and the teachers push it hard too. And they spend hours everyday practicing and practicing. They often even practice on the weekend, during summer vacation and on holidays. I am not against trying to do well but I think it is a bit of overkill. My daughters usually practice about 3-4 hours a day and sometimes seven days a week. This is equivalent to the amount of time they spend in school. But I live in the countryside in Kansai and I have heard that this area is somewhat severe. I hope that things will change. They have changed in the city some in recent years.

My children are all "half" but they really have not had to much trouble with not being "pure" Japanese. The kids seem to accept them as well as the teachers.

One other thing about JHS and HS in Japan is that they are geared towards just preparing the students for entrance examinations. This at times amounts to just teaching facts and figures and not really teaching in depth. Another thing that is different in Japanese schools is that the students don't really have a choice as to the classes they take. In the states you can choose some electives but here everyone is about the same. There are some HS that have some special courses for example an English course.

Well enough. Good Luck,
Japanguy

[Mulboyne]

Yomiuri: Govt to make kindergarten compulsory

Compulsory education will be expanded to 10 or 11 years as the government and ruling parties have drawn up a policy to extend the period from the current nine years by including kindergarten, sources in the government and the ruling parties said Saturday. The lack of coherency in social skills for children as they enter primary school from kindergarten is one of the main reasons for differences in academic achievement, according to specialists. The plan aims to build an integrated education system by including kindergarten in compulsory education, the sources said.

The plan also aims to strengthen countermeasures to fight the nation's declining birthrate by making early childhood education free of charge. The government and ruling parties plan to submit the policy in a bill to revise the Fundamental Law of Education to the Diet in its ordinary session to be convened in January. The revision will delete a clause stipulating that compulsory education is for nine years comprising primary and middle school. The government and ruling parties aim for the extended compulsory education to start in the 2009 academic year.

In recent years, problems involving early grade primary school students have been reported, such as first-year students in primary schools who cannot adapt themselves to to the social atmosphere and are fussy and disturb classes. Education experts also have pointed out that as teaching methods, subjects and levels of challenge differ greatly between primary and middle schools, the changes enlarge gaps in academic capabilities among students. The government and ruling parties therefore also are reviewing the system of compulsory and kindergarten-stage education.

The Liberal Democratic Party promised to make early childhood education free of charge in its manifesto for the House of Representatives election in September, 2005. New Komeito, the LDP's junior coalition partner, has basically agreed to the plan. Former Education, Science and Technology Minister Takeo Kawamura, chairman of the LDP's Research Commission on the Education System, said: "Other countries also have considered extending the period of compulsory education. Now is the time for Japan to consider it seriously."

In Britain compulsory education is 11 years starting at the age of 5. And in 2000, the British government made free nursery schools for children under 5. France made public kindergartens free of charge in 1989. The Central Education Council, an advisory panel for the education, science and technology minister, proposed in its report in January 2005 that the government should consider an education system integrating kindergarten and primary school stages. The government and ruling parties are considering options that one or two years in kindergarten will become part of compulsory education, or that parents will be able to choose between ordinary kindergartens and special ones integrated with primary schools.