Oyama Elementary school(Ginowan)

[thistle]

I just wanted to talk about my son's school here, in case anyone is ever looking for a japanese public school, after 7 year's experience with both my
kid's there I have only good things to say about it.
My older one, who looks mixed race only once had problems being picked on by some classmates, and that was not for looking different, it was something else. However, the teacher once told picked up on the problem immediately and it was fixed. They do not tolerate teasing or bullying there and once the teacher knows about it they will deal with it.
My younger son, in a school which has over 220 kids (yes, it is the 2nd biggest in Okinawa), has rarely been bothered for being 'half', does not really know what it means. There are quite a lot of bi-racial kids there, and nobody really bothers much. It is pretty much an open school, yes, it is your typical japanese elementary school, but there is something different about it, not too rigid. I have even seen american kids going there for a few months, and they can take special japanese classes.
Sometimes when I go there, like this morning, when I went to read them some books in english, the amount of kids just overwhelms me.
40 kids in their class this year, hope that will change next year...
Yes, I think the elementary school in this country is great, it is the next step (Junior High school) that bothers me.

[Muku]

I just wanted to talk about my son's school here, in case anyone is ever looking for a japanese public school, after 7 year's experience with both my
kid's there I have only good things to say about it.
My older one, who looks mixed race only once had problems being picked on by some classmates, and that was not for looking different, it was something else. However, the teacher once told picked up on the problem immediately and it was fixed. They do not tolerate teasing or bullying there and once the teacher knows about it they will deal with it.
My younger son, in a school which has over 220 kids (yes, it is the 2nd biggest in Okinawa), has rarely been bothered for being 'half', does not really know what it means. There are quite a lot of bi-racial kids there, and nobody really bothers much. It is pretty much an open school, yes, it is your typical japanese elementary school, but there is something different about it, not too rigid. I have even seen american kids going there for a few months, and they can take special japanese classes.
Sometimes when I go there, like this morning, when I went to read them some books in english, the amount of kids just overwhelms me.
40 kids in their class this year, hope that will change next year...
Yes, I think the elementary school in this country is great, it is the next step (Junior High school) that bothers me.

Thistle thanks for sharing this........sorry but I can name at a minimum, just off the top of my head, 20 or 30 ES's that have a larger attendance than 220 kids.

Here is one Ueta ES in Tomigusuku has roughly 1,100 students in 1st through 6th grade.

There are numerous ES btw that have American as well as other countries children come and "visit" their schools for anywhere from a couple of days to a few months.

My son was entered into a Japanese JHS for 3 weeks during his summer vacation as well.

I realize that isnt the point you are are sharing here........

Oh when your son enters JHS get involved as much as you can with PTA and get your "face" known in the school. The more that you are seen the less trouble will your son face.

Otherwise give me a ring........:)

[thistle]

Oh someone read that post:o
There was no real point I was trying to make, but I did make a mistake on the figures - I meant 220 kids in one year, the school has more than 1,200
kids total!

[Muku]

Oh someone read that post:o
There was no real point I was trying to make, but I did make a mistake on the figures - I meant 220 kids in one year, the school has more than 1,200
kids total!

Actually there was one other post here, I didnt necromance the thread, someone else did, it caught my eye and now the "other" post is gone.

Sorry.......