Proven Wrong

I have to admit that I didn't have the most positive attitude about spending the day at an elementary school.  My focus has always been secondary level education and while I admire elementary school teachers, I've never put time into studying their practice because I didn't think it would be all too helpful to me.  I was, without a doubt, proven wrong today.   

We arrived bright and early at Yokkaichi City Chuba Nisha Elementary School and greeted the principal, Suzuki-san, at the gate.  Like she does every morning, Suzuki-san greeted every student as they arrived at school.  We were fortunate to join her today and happily said, "Ohayo gozai masu" (Good morning) to each student who entered the gate.  Some were so happy to see us and others were shocked, as we could tell by their surprised, scared faces when they turned the corner to enter the gate.

We freely observed opening activities in each class.  I wasn't surprised to see that the students start daily activities by reciting a morning ritual phrase and asking each student in the class how he or she is feeling.  While next taking a tour of the school, it was apparent that this particular public school is resource-rich.  During the break between 2nd and 3rd periods, students participated in various activities.  I observed students playing piano- a 

small concert for their peers. I also saw parents volunteering in the library to help students create "wishes" for the school's wish tree.

Lunch time was fascinating.  Just as we saw at the junior high school, students were responsible for preparing the classrooms for lunch time and for distributing the meals to their classmates (they take turns).  I sat with four sixth graders during lunch, two of whom knew limited English.  I observed some very intense match-ups of "Paper, Rock, Scissors" with the teacher and his students.  The students clearly love this bonding activity with their teacher.

The students enjoyed a short play period after lunch and then the music began over the loud speaker.  Without hesitation, each student grabbed his/her designated cleaning tool and began his/her designated cleaning task.  Again, this was a fun part of the day for them.

We observed more classes in the afternoon.  The highlight of the afternoon was, by far, the 4th grade music class.  When a small group of us walked into the classroom, the teacher had not yet arrived.  Without any instruction (or thoughts from the students of doing anything else), two girls sat down at the piano and and the other students grabbed their instruments and gathered around the piano.  This is what happened:

Incredible!

We stood at the doorway and waved goodbye to all the children as they were dismissed for the day.  "Sayonara!" and "See you!" they all said.  A short question/answer session with the principal and our fleeting visit was over.  As I was walking through the play yard towards the front gate, two girls came running towards me yelling, "Coker-san!, Coker-san!" They hugged me and said, "sad, sad, sad."  It broke my heart!  I tore myself away from them and waved goodbye.