School principal, teacher to be charged over student's death

Thursday 18th December, 06:38 AM JST

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likeitis at 10:38 AM JST - 18th December

I would NEVER want to be responsible for 30-40 elementary school aged brats on a roof.

Neither would I. But they did this for 19 years without incident.

Frankly, its a dangerous world. There are all kinds of ways disobedient kids can get themselves hurt or killed.
STC at 11:21 AM JST - 18th December

The teacher and principal are in fact responsible for student safety. It's a tribute to all Japanese that the two willingly accept responsibility for the tragedy instead of dodging it.
soldave at 11:23 AM JST - 18th December

I'm assuming that all the previous principals of the school going back to 1989 are going to be given similar charges for not stopping classes from taking place on the roof?
TheguyNextdoor at 01:37 PM JST - 18th December

The thing that bothered me about this whole thing when originally posted here on JT; 1. Why did they not use the school play grounds to measure strides!? 2. Yes, the teacher and principal should be held accountable, but not criminally. 3. The kid must have been special and was mis-diagnosed, at that age...i know i knew not to walk on some glass/plastic windows on a roof top. No common sense among them all....R.I.P
nandakandamanda at 02:05 PM JST - 18th December

Similar accidents happened at other schools, I heard on the news. If there is a door, and the roof is designed to be walked upon, why was there no warning sticker about the strength of the skylights, and why was there no safety net underneath them, with such a large drop? Had the sticker turned white in the sun, and had the translucent skylight material turned opaque and brittle over the years, I wonder?
likeitis at 04:35 PM JST - 18th December

why was there no warning sticker about the strength of the skylights, and why was there no safety net underneath them

I think a barrier around the skylights would be about ten times more important. We might have a case for suing the company that installed them and the company that made them.
jessssicaaa at 05:36 PM JST - 18th December

I think a barrier around the skylights would be about ten times more important. We might have a case for suing the company that installed them and the company that made them.

why was there no warning sticker about the strength of the skylights, and why was there no safety net underneath them

I think they should definitly sue.
BBLeo at 08:23 PM JST - 18th December

Yes, schools are responsible for all students while they are in school. Teachers are their mothers and fathers while they are in their trusting care. I will table this as negligence, and 'education department' should be sued wit substantial amount. Teachers are aware of their students’ behavior better than their own parents. This school should be punishable example to all others schools in Japan. We are not talking about money as principal issue but protection for students while they are in care of 'education department.'
billclinton at 08:53 PM JST - 18th December

According to investigations, Miyayama is suspected of failing to inform teachers about the possible dangers of students falling from such windows

why did not the teachers realize this for themselves?
Nessie at 09:16 PM JST - 18th December

why did not the teachers realize this for themselves?

What? They're supposed to know about technical stuff like gravity?
Ageha at 09:30 PM JST - 18th December

Yes, schools are responsible for all students while they are in school. Teachers are their mothers and fathers while they are in their trusting care.

Yeah, but not enough 'parents' to control them, like being severe or able to punish them. Teachers are like 'light parents', they have the obligation and responsibilities for their life/health/ welfare but not enough power to control or punish them. Bad deal.. poor teachers. And a 12 years old kid isn't really a little kid that needs to be watched all the time. Probably he was a 'punk in the making already'.
billclinton at 09:46 PM JST - 18th December

What? They're supposed to know about technical stuff like gravity?

oh man. That is why I pay for Montessori.
usaexpat at 12:41 AM JST - 19th December

Say it with me now: scapegoat. I feel sorry for the principle his life is essentially over because some dumb kid was doing what dumb kids do and ended up getting killed.
Ke11iente at 04:20 AM JST - 19th December

Are you sure he wasn't teaching a lesson about Darwin?
airrunwesker at 04:57 AM JST - 19th December

This is an outragous charge! I feel for the kids parents... but these individuals were not to blame. This was a tragic accident.