Wasn't "class change" every year?

April 22, 13:03

"It seems that the first elementary school in Nagano prefecture to change classes" every year "has appeared."

When I first heard this story, I (Makino) doubted my ears.

You change classes every year, right?

In Saitama prefecture, where I grew up, it was natural to change classes every year from elementary school to high school.

I was curious and changed classes and tried various things.

(Nagano Broadcasting Station reporter Shintaro Makino Kimihiko Ando)

The prefecture's first "every year" class change

First of all, I visited an elementary school that started to change classes every year from this year.

Susobana Elementary School in the center of Nagano City.

It is a medium-sized school with 3 classes in 1st grade and 502 children in all schools.

Isn't the class change done every year?

When I asked the principal, Takuro Miyajima, who responded to me, I immediately answered with a smile as follows.

Principal Takuro Miyajima

"It seems that there are places where classes are changed every year outside the prefecture. However, at elementary schools in Nagano prefecture, it is common to change classes once every two or three years, and at our school, once every two years, third graders. I used to do it when I was in the 5th grade and when I was in the 5th grade. From the new year, I decided to do it every year. "

After confirming with the Nagano Prefectural Board of Education, about 40% of the 354 elementary schools in the prefecture are once every two years.

About 10% once every three years.

The rest were one-class schools in the first grade where classes could not be changed in the first place.

Why "every year"?

The main aim of Principal Miyajima was to eliminate the immobilization of human relationships.

He points out that if the children's faces haven't changed for two years and most of the teachers in charge have lifted up, it's easy to fall into a narrow relationship that focuses only on the class.

Principal Miyajima

"I think there was something like a (class) wall that was so strong that I didn't have much to do with friends in other classes."

However, it was not easy to break through the long-standing “natural”.

Last November, when we sent a notice to parents and asked for their opinions, there were 18 positive opinions and 25 negative opinions.

"It's hard for a shy child."

"It's a shallow relationship and I can't make friends who can be called friends."

"One year is not enough for both teachers and children to understand each other."

After all, "once every two to three years" was the standard for parents.

When I actually talked to parents, many people said that they were not immediately accepted due to confusion and anxiety.

Nevertheless, Principal Miyajima repeatedly held briefing sessions and spent nearly half a year gaining understanding.

Principal Miyajima

"I want the teachers to grow as low as possible by interacting with and stimulating children in other classes. Teachers are not solely responsible for their own class, but children in other classes. I also wanted you to pay attention to it. "

Is there a regional difference in class change?

There is a question that I couldn't get rid of while I was interviewing.

That was why the frequency of class changes differs between Nagano prefecture and my hometown, Saitama prefecture.

What is the situation in each area?

I decided to check 47 prefectures.

Actually, there is no clear guideline for the frequency of class changes in the country or prefecture, and the method is left to the discretion of each school.

Even so, when I asked the person in charge of the board of education and the teachers about the situation at the site, I could see the difference in the tendency in each region.

The result is this map.

Seven prefectures, mainly Tohoku and Koshinetsu, answered that "there are many schools once every two years."

Twenty-two prefectures, mainly in western Japan and the Tokyo metropolitan area, answered that there are many schools every year.

Other than that, the answers were "both" and "I don't know the tendency".

I also asked about the reason.

"Once every two years" school

○ It is easy to provide consistent guidance by dividing the lower grades, middle grades, and upper grades.

○ A deep human relationship can be built between teachers and children, or between children.

"Every year" school

○ It is better to have the opportunity to meet various children and teachers.

○ To solve problems in the class such as bullying.

"Every year" sect gains momentum

The "every year" faction that seems to be dominant nationwide.

In fact, it has become clear that the momentum is increasing.

At least 15 prefectures said, "The number of schools that change classes every year is increasing."

Of these, the person in charge in Fukuoka Prefecture testified that although "once every two years" was the mainstream in the past, it has been replaced by "every year" since the 2008s.

why?

Why the number of "every year" groups increases

Ask Professor Emeritus Shigeru Amagasa of Chiba University, who is familiar with school management and also served as the vice chairman of the Central Council for Education.

"Class changes used to be" once every two to three years "in many areas, and it was common for homeroom teachers not to change, but the frequency is increasing as the times progress."

When I asked another expert, three changes emerged as the background to the increasing number of "every year" groups.

Change 1 "Team Education" Professor Emeritus Shigeru Amagasa, Chiba University

"In the past, the idea that the homeroom teacher took time to deeply understand the child and raise the child in the class was well established. Under

such circumstances, the method of facing children by forming a team of multiple teachers is changing. ”

Change 2“ Ensuring diversity ”Professor Hisashi Fushiki, Shinshu University

“ “Diversity” is more respected There is an increasing demand for the ability to deal with various partners at all times. One way to think about how to create an environment that fosters "diversity" in the school is to change classes every year. "

Change 3" Decentralization of unfairness "Professor Hisashi Fushiki, Shinshu University

" Each class has its own personality and the policy of class management is different. However, from the perspective of parents, they do what the next class is doing. There are many voices pointing out "unfairness" to the school, such as not having it, and the class next door was better. There is an increasing need to manage the school while listening to the opinions of parents. "

New semester starts with new class

Early April.

Both the children and the teacher visited Susumu Elementary School, which started with a new face.

I asked again how to accept the annual class change in the new 4th grade class.

Child

"I had a feeling of opposition to changing classes every year, but now I think it's good because I can get along with everyone in the

grade

.

"

I was worried that I wouldn't have it, but I felt like I was accepting it, and it seemed like I was going to do my best in a new class. "

Principal Miyajima pointed out that "the disadvantages should be reduced as much as possible and the advantages should be maximized" in order to establish the class change every year. He showed his thoughts on working to build a relationship.

The changing era is the preferred way

The way of class change that keeps changing with the environment surrounding the school.

At the moment, the number of children who cannot change classes physically is increasing due to the decrease in the number of children due to the declining birthrate.

Under such circumstances, there is a movement to review the class change that is bound by the frame of the grade, and the elementary school attached to Tokyo Gakugei University has introduced a "mixed class of different grades" in which 1st to 6th graders spend time together outside of class. ..

On the other hand, when discussing class changes, it is important to remember that increasing frequency can lead to further increases in the burden on teachers who are already busy.

What kind of figure is desirable for children and schools?

I felt that it was important to have a wide range of discussions, regardless of the past or precedent.

Nagano Broadcasting Station Reporter

Shintaro Makino

Joined in 2015

After working at the Miyazaki Station, the incumbent

class has been changed every year since elementary school.

He also wanted to experience it once every two years.

Nagano Broadcasting Station Reporter

Kimihiko Ando

Joined in 2009

Kumamoto Station, Sapporo Station, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, etc. In

Ibaraki, where I spent my incumbent elementary school days, I change classes every year.

I remember being a little confused because there was only one class in the first grade in Okayama, where I transferred.