Over 100 teachers in managerial posts offer to take demotions in 2007

Monday 20th October, 06:33 AM JST

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8 Comments

borscht at 08:57 AM JST - 19th October

I think the Ministry of ECSST should provide more money for more teachers and fewer students per class rather than 'urge' schools to improve their working conditions.
smithinjapan at 09:39 AM JST - 19th October

Borscht: I'm with you. I know hardly any teachers that haven't taken a 'sick' leave at some point in their careers (by that I mean a month or so off for stress), perhaps minus those that just started. They have to deal with oversized classes and ZERO disciplinary powers.
NuckinFutz at 10:40 AM JST - 19th October

Do it = leadership Urge = weakness
memyselfI at 09:15 AM JST - 20th October

WoW!!! This is very scary news for foreign teachers working in public schools. If they demote, the senior staff and senior members of the Public Schools what is next ? ALT'S working only 1 or 2 days a week.
Disillusioned at 10:13 AM JST - 20th October

memyself - these were voluntary demotions, not forced. The workloads and responsibilities of the higher positions in public schools are ridiculous. This news comes as no surprise to me at all. Having to be at school from 7:30am 9 or 10pm everyday is enough to put anybody into therapy.
OgieDoggie at 01:30 AM JST - 21st October

I have 3 friends and 2 relatives who are teachers here in the U.S. they seem to suffer from the same problems..overcrowded classess and zero disciplinary powers. Burn out seems to happen alot in this field in both countries. So much for "INVESTING" in our future.
lunartemis78 at 06:42 AM JST - 21st October

What exactly do they mean by 'working conditions'? I'm a teacher in Australia and we are expected to do 'some' extra-curricular activities but I think the problem with teachers in Japan are pretty much the same as salarymen and any other Japanese workers who seem to think what they get given is what they have to deal with, hence 'forcing them' to stay at work late.

I think the social expectations (must work=workaholic=NEET/Hikikomori) needs to be dealt with and altered first.
Ageha at 04:11 AM JST - 22nd October

I don't think that the extra-curricular activities are the only problem here. The kids are part of this situation, they're pretty much 'punks' from a tender age..