More than 100,000 bullying cases at schools in FY 2007

Friday 21st November, 06:35 AM JST

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Latest 15 of 27 Total Comments Show All

whitepocky at 12:41 PM JST - 21st November

Japan's education system is like a psych test gone horribly wrong....

I was thinking more like, they are failing to brainwash them!!!
MeanRingo at 12:41 PM JST - 21st November

"341 bullying cases were reported from schools for the blind, deaf-mutes or the disabled." Good to know that the Japanese are consistent in their ijime. I would hate for some groups to be left out of the party. I wonder how the hierarchy works at some of these schools? Do they too pick on the weak amongst them?
Philmoscowitz at 12:51 PM JST - 21st November

would be nice to know how these numbers compare internationally.
kirakira25 at 01:06 PM JST - 21st November

In a society where everyone from child to adult feels powerless, worthless and out of control bullying will always be a problem.

I had to laugh at what someone said about PTA and OL`s ganging up on the newbies! SO true! My daughter started kindie this year, a year later than the rest of the class. She did great but for me, it was like being back in JHS again! The mums were UNBELIEVABLE! They went for me like a goldfish in a piranha tank! And I am NOT weak, lacking in confidence, quiet or an easy target at all.

The thing is, I have a ton of great friends, a great life, a good job and I really couldn`t care less what a bunch of inbred myopic witches thought of me! They had very little affect on me whatsoever except to make me so happy that their exlusive behaviour meant I got out of my "PTA duties" for a good 6 months or so, and make me seriously consider applying to do a PhD in social science!

Then all of a sudden it all stopped and one by one they suddenly all came forward to be my new best friends. Now I find myself having to crush tin cans every Wednesday morning and collect peoples empty boxes and stuff for class projects - bugger!

Maybe if people started to learn or to live like their whole life doesn`t revolve school and the people in it they might find it easier to deal with.
tmarie at 01:07 PM JST - 21st November

Ah the "special students" and their room. I hate that. It is an excuse for everything. Heck, I've got kids that don't come to school because they don't like the new seating chart. Parents actually call and ask teachers to change the seats because their kid doesn't want to seat next to the window - monster parents!! We end up spending hours talking about these kids and nothing ever changes. Kids do need to be taught how to fight back I think but parents need to teach their kids about having confidence. It seems that kids are either bullies, being bullies or brats who know that their parents will do anything for them and cause problems for teachers and other students. If schools and teachers were serious about the bullying issues that make better rules and punishments. As it is now at my school the kid will be "spoken to" and that's about it.

Japan, seriously pull your head out of your ass.
whynothow at 01:57 PM JST - 21st November

What happened to the Talk? "Son, this is your first day at school today....if anybody hits ya, hit them back....harder...Its your choice really hits once or get hit everyday....
ptolemy at 03:38 PM JST - 21st November

Well I guess that white paper Fukuda issued last year didn't work out well. Time for Aso to issue his white paper on bullying.
GW at 04:14 PM JST - 21st November

beelzebub

I find most "bad things" reported in/about Jpn tend to be off by at least an order of magnitude so I wud say add another zero, lets say 1 million is probably closer to reality I wud guess.

Bullying is so ingrained in Jpn many dont even notice it as its just "the way it is", without bullying wud the Japanese still even be Japanese......
Tim_Fox at 09:39 PM JST - 21st November

I am not prepared to assume that the Japanese case of bullying is much different than the US case of bullying at schools. The outstanding difference is that Japanese schools have more high stakes testing (getting more and more in US schools), the culture of the group (in the US children do identify with a group, but the culture promotes more individualism for its adults), and the culture of suicide (public humiliation does not work as well in America - and suicide is not seen as some honorable way out... sorry ... I know there are other causes but just putting a few points out here). Bullying is quite high at US schools, but for the reasons stated above may have less of an impact in the long run on the victims (... in general... ). As for Special Education, many disabled kids (from my own work experience) have even greater difficulties in making appropriate behavioral choices than children in General Education programs. Bullying happens a lot in Special Education schools. At my school, where we see it we try to squelch it - and I think we generally can get most of it because of the higher staff to student supervision. Maybe Japanese general education should consider staffing classes over a certain size with a paraprofessional (yeah I know this is more added cost at a time of recession, but... it might work). Students would get more attention and be less liable to act out, and instances of bullying could be more widely known.
helloklitty at 09:55 PM JST - 21st November

Kirakira: I really couldn`t care less what a bunch of inbred myopic witches thought of me!

That's the attitude to have. At my previous job, I heard the district manager was not a fan of mine. I felt honored.
helloklitty at 09:58 PM JST - 21st November

whynothow: "Son, this is your first day at school today....if anybody hits ya, hit them back....harder...Its your choice really hits once or get hit everyday....

This is the nut of the issue. You (student/worker) will be bullied if you are weak. Do not show weakness.
MeanRingo at 10:00 PM JST - 21st November

Tim, you mean 40-to-1 isn't good enough for you? Enjoy your private school.
Tim_Fox at 10:59 PM JST - 21st November

I don't work at private school. I work at a special education public school. Most days are good, but I have witnessed fights, have been hit, and seen chairs fly across my room. Just like they do in Japan, Special Education classes are smaller (12 students maximum) with a paraprofessional. This is to serve students from mild learning disability across the spectrum to students with down's syndrome, ADHD, and other developmental delays. Believe me my work in this environment is quite challenging, but the extra staffing is necessary to give these kids a chance for a much independence as possible when they graduate. Onto 40 students and 1 teacher. New York State does not allow I think more than 30 (I am not sure of the exact number), but 40 students sounds too high for 1 teacher to supervise and instruct properly.... But NO I do NOT teach at a private school. Far from it actually....
Tim_Fox at 11:04 PM JST - 21st November

The only reason for high numbers such as 40-1 is the cost. My opinion is that in General Education a class would ideally be 20-1. Since it's not possible due to cost, Japanese policy makers (not that any will read any of these posts unfortunately ... or fortunately depending on your opinion here.. ha ha) could mandate classes larger than 30-1 to have a paraprofessional or teacher aide. Throw an extra para or two to float, and work where needed as well (a smaller class may have a problem that warrants an "intervention" with an extra para). The position would pay less than a teacher, but could make a huge difference in the amount of bullying.
kokuryu at 02:34 AM JST - 22nd November

This averages out to like 1 in 200 kids are being bullied based on these facts. That's a pretty high average of bullying.