What is the new option school “alternative school” February 14 11:56

Do you know a school called “alternative school”?

In recent years, it has been attracting attention as a “new option school” that is different from general public and private schools.

What kind of education are you aiming for?

For three months, I spent three months at an alternative school established six years ago in Kumamoto City.

(Kumamoto Broadcasting Station Director Takahiro Okubo)

The body gradually rejects

Arata Murata is a 4th grade elementary school student.

He is a lively boy who loves being in public.

However, I couldn't get used to the local elementary school I entered in the first grade.

Arata-kun, who was at his own pace, was unable to keep pace with the people around him, and he suffered.

Shinta-kun

: "The teacher gives you all the instructions, and if you don't follow the instructions, you get scolded. Don't move during class. Don't talk while others are talking."

It is said that the body gradually began to show a rejection reaction.

Tomomi:

"Someone was warning me while I was at school. It must have been uncomfortable. My complexion is pure white, I feel like it's over! , I feel that this is not a problem of the body, it is a problem of the mind."

His parents were worried that he would not be able to attend school, so they decided to send him to another school.

Her parents chose Wing School, which was established in Kumamoto City six years ago.

It is located near Lake Ezu, where rich nature remains and is popular as a place of relaxation for Kumamoto citizens.

The school building uses a building that was used as a private house.

About 70 elementary and junior high school students attend.

Among them, there are children from outside the prefecture, such as Kurume City in Fukuoka Prefecture, who commute by highway bus every day, which takes about two hours.

alternative school

"Wing School" is one of the alternative schools, which translates into Japanese as "school of new options".

Although there is no clear definition, it is a general term for schools that are operated according to their own educational philosophy and policy, which is different from the current public education (public schools and private schools), and includes free schools.

As of January 2023, there will be approximately 100 alternative schools in Kyushu alone.

Many of them are unlicensed and unable to graduate, so the children are enrolled in nearby public schools.

In the case of Wing School, regular reporting of the child's attendance and learning status to the school will be treated as attendance, and compulsory education will be completed.

Efforts have also begun to make grades here as grades at school.

Process is more important than result

What is important at Wing School is “project-based learning,” in which students work on what they want to do and present it.

Arata Murata is working on a "movie project" to make a movie based on his own scenario

. .

Together with their classmate Yutaka Honda, they use tablet devices to handle everything from filming to complex editing and video synthesis.

The filming is not progressing very well, but the teachers are watching over them.

Moriya

: Project-based learning is learning that values ​​the process rather than the result. Even if we take the lead and succeed, if the feeling of being forced to do something remains, it will not lead to sufficient learning.”

In fact, Yutaka-kun said that he chose Wing School where he could study at his own pace because he grew up slower than other children of his age.

Since entering Wing School, I have gained confidence little by little, and now I am ambitiously challenging various things.

Yuma:

“Yutaka is the type that grows slowly.

Shinta-kun, who tends to lose sight of his surroundings when he's engrossed in it, and Yutaka-kun, who is not good at communicating his opinions to others because he goes at his own pace.

Although the two have polar opposite personalities, it is said that as they worked on the project, they began to clash with each other.

In addition, children set their own themes, such as the "Coffee Project," where they enjoy communicating through coffee, and the "Medicinal Herbs Project," where they enjoy eating nearby plants. Pursue.

School is not the only education

Wing School Principal Yoshihiro Tagami

“Among the children in the same grade, there are children who grow up early or late, who can do it properly, who can’t do it properly, who are different, who haven’t changed, who are treated as special and ridiculed, and who have hurt experiences. It's easy to inflict

This is what Mr. Yoshihiro Tagami, also known as “Zen-san,” the founder of Wing School, is the principal of Wing School.

He has been a public middle school teacher for nearly 30 years.

In Japanese schools, we tend to be expected to do the same things as everyone else.

It is said that there are many children who are tired of trying to fit in with their surroundings, and are hurt by their inability to fit in, and before they know it, school is no longer a fun place to be.

I believe that one of the reasons why children can't go to school is because of the emotional wounds and trauma they have suffered during school life.

Ms. Tagami

: "A restaurant that doesn't have customers has a bad taste or a bad atmosphere, and it's the restaurant's fault, so I don't blame the customers. Children can't come to school because the school doesn't have the services they need." ”

We are actively promoting cooperation with Kumamoto City.

Kumamoto City Superintendent of Education Endo

: “If the result of forcing yourself to go to school is that you are not happy now and that you are useless in the future, then it means nothing. Without it, we will not be able to realize what is in the best interests of each and every child.”

management issues

There is an increase in the number of children who do not attend school as a background to the attention of alternative schools.

According to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the number of elementary and junior high school students who were absent from school for 30 days or more a year reached a record high of 250,000 last year.

In response to this situation, the government has changed its policy to allow a variety of educational options, instead of forcing children who do not attend school to return to school.

On the other hand, there are also challenges.

Many alternative schools are unlicensed and lack public funding, so they rely heavily on tuition fees to fund their operations.

Some local governments, such as Tokyo and Fukuoka prefectures, are able to provide subsidies. It's the actual situation.

Believe in the buds of growth and wait

After three months of close coverage, I felt that children always have great potential.

On the other hand, while society is changing faster than ever, schools are changing too slowly.

Believe in the buds of growth and wait.

As a father, I was reminded of the importance of this.

Director of Kumamoto Broadcasting Station

Takahiro Okubo

Joined in 2005 After working

at the Kumamoto Station, the Science and Environment Program Department, and the NEP Natural Science Program Department, he assumed his current position in 2018.

Mainly producing nature and science programs such as "Darwin has come!" and "NHK Special." have been