What Indonesian Schools Shall Learn from Japan’s

Having a chance to study in Japan is indeed very meaningful experience in my life. In previous year of my study, me and our course friends were having an opportunity to have school visits in some elementary schools, junior secondary and vocational high schools in Japan. 

From visit to these schools, I found out that there are many differences which Indonesian schools or educators shall learn out of, and among others are:

School preparation :

The first impression that I get from many Japanese students in my visit in an elementary school in Saijo is their warmth hearted and friendliness. They made a line as they entered the school gate, with the leader carrying a small flag walked in front of them. Each of those cute little students greeted us with smile “ Ohayo gozaimashita”.

This maybe simple but very meaningful. It somehow showed me that education is not just a matter of study in the classroom, but also even to how to live in a group or community which requires discipline, teamwork, management skills, and leadership, and of course another important character, open heartedness and friendliness, revealed in their smiling faces saying “ohayo gozaimashita”.

 

School activities :

Japanese elementary schools students were very active and inquisitive in non lesson and in lesson time. In one of no lesson time, those little children show their activities by playing with soils, small insects, pets, and other things without being afraid. Instead those children were somehow observing these animals and soils, and looking so curious about them. Other activities were spent with playing some games with their friends. Some students have a piece of fabric attached with their bodies, while others running after them. In that occasion I happened to be one of the participants in that game.

The active behaviour of children was appeared also in lesson time. In the mathematics class which I observed, I saw how children were very spontaneous and curious with the lesson. Each time the teacher offers a question, many children seem to have no doubt to raise their hands and answer the teachers with their original ideas from their mind.

The condition above offers us some lessons for all schools and educators around the world. As for an Indonesian, I saw how Japanese schools offer different environment and situation for children to learn. Though some efforts have been made to create a character building environment and funs learning for children, many children were still seemed to be passive in learning. In non lesson time, many children only stay in the canteen, chatting with friends or playing games or sports. There are no activities like observing pets, plants, insect as in Japan. And those who play games or sports, when they have to come to the class for lesson, many of them were still left on the field or canteen, or come to class but without concentration because they were very exhausted and hungry after playing.

In lesson time, interaction between students and teacher, and among students, in many schools, seemed to be dominated by teacher.  Many children were quiet doing nothing but listen and follow the teacher instruction. They somehow study but not necessarily learn.

 

Finally, I would like to say there are many differences and lessons where we can learn from elementary schools in Japan.