Itabashi Elementary School -- What a Day!

Well, this may have been my favorite day so far in Japan (though it would be hard to decide for sure). We caught the bus at 7:15 a.m. heading to Itabashi Elementary School, one of eleven public elementary schools (Grades 1-6) in the Ikeda-city district. Thus we were right on hand as children started to arrive. We were greeted and we greeted in return: “Ohayo gozaimasu! Ohayo gozaimasu!” Here is George, an art teacher in our group, giving handshakes, an American custom as opposed to the customary Japanese bow we usually return.

Once a week the entire student body of 498 meets in the playing field outside (weather permitting) for an assembly; we visitors were the stars of today’s gathering. All day long we felt the warmth and enthusiasm of the students and teachers. The principal, Mr. Fujiwara, gave us a quick tour of the school building (which had many of the aspects of Lawrence School but with a different spin, which I think I’ll need to save to explain when I return) before we started on our day of class visits and full participation in school activities. I first went to class 3-1 (one section of third grade) where each child introduced him or herself in English, and stated what they especially enjoyed. Many, many students declared baseball, though oranges were a second favorite! I was very glad to be able to show them pictures of Fenway Park, Lawrence School and my home and family. They exclaimed loudly when they saw our family’s red Victorian house, as there is really nothing like it in Japan. Then I attended a second grade class for several subjects – reading in Japanese, a test on kanji and math. There were many similarities with a school day at Lawrence but also differences. There are cubbies in the classroom, plus cubbies in the hallway for a change of clothes for sports and a separate cubby for musical instruments (a small keyboard for second grade). The daily schedule was posted, along with class duties.
The students themselves served hot lunch in the classroom, and they then cleaned up the entire classroom, moving desks around, sweeping and wiping all the surfaces. Other grade levels cleaned hallways and bathrooms! Teachers remained in the classrooms for lunch, and stayed with students for recess and sports, too. It was great fun to visit a class doing calligraphy (part of the language program), one practicing sumo,
several fantastic music classes (instrumental and vocal) and one home economics class where boys and girls were ironing and sewing. I was overjoyed to get a chance to spend time in the library, a welcoming place visited each week by each class, and talk with the library teacher. She was delighted to receive a copy of Make Way for Ducklings (in English) as a token of my visit.


We ended the day by asking the principal many questions about his school. In response to the question “Of what are you most proud about your school?,” he replied instantly that the school receives the most heavily handicapped students, and other students are considerate, gentle and loving, always with open hearts for those who are handicapped. The faculty was quite young overall, and he told us that after five years teachers must change schools, as part of their growing experience. We also learned that the sixth graders climb Mt. Fuji during their final year, and that fifth graders plant, weed and harvest the crop of a rice paddy over the course of their year.

It is not possible to convey the energy and enthusiasm present at Itabashi Elementary School. It reminded me a great deal of Lawrence School!