The students eventually gave up What the school rules should be March 3, 18:53

A snowy morning.

A student who was not accepted as a matter of course to wear warm clothes to school because it was cold.

I wanted to have a discussion to change the rules, but the reaction of the teachers was very different from what I had imagined.

"From the teacher's point of view, no comment

. "

This is a story about "junior high school rules".

(Hiroshima Broadcasting Station Reporter Yaki Shigeta)

Severe cold, school rules do not allow jumpers

January 25th.

In the morning, I (the reporter) put on my thick down jacket and snow boots and headed to work.

I knew that the coldest air of the winter would flow into Hiroshima and cause heavy snowfall, and I knew it would be severely cold.

It has been reported many times in the news of the media companies for several days.

When I looked around, I saw people in thick jackets walking carefully on the snowy road.

The lowest temperature in Hiroshima City was minus 4.2 degrees, and the highest temperature was 3.1 degrees.

On that day, at a junior high school in Hiroshima City, something happened over the school rules.

A second-year male student was stopped by a teacher at the school gate when he went to school wearing a jumper.

And based on the student guidance regulations, which are school rules, I was instructed not to wear a jumper.

Students took off their jumpers and didn't wear them when they left school.

The next day, the student had a fever.

Although I recovered after that, I was absent from school for about a week.

The student guidelines read as follows:

Winter clothes (may be worn in cold weather)

(1) Sweaters and cardigans (sleeves and hem should be covered) Plain white, navy blue, black and gray colors for both men and women (2) Scarves, gloves,

neckwear Ma (not worn at school)

There is no mention of jumpers or coats.

In early February, when I asked the school about it, the answer was "not recognized".

Hiroshima Municipal Junior High School

: "School rules must be followed for the safety and security of children.At the moment, except for individual reasons such as illness, we believe that the permitted winter clothes will be sufficient to cope with the cold."

Why on such a cold day?

I wondered for whom and for what the rules are more important than the health of children.

Shorts even in winter

In Hiroshima Prefecture, even in winter, some elementary school students go to school in shorts.

If you look at the school rules for this year at several elementary schools in the prefecture, they say, ``Wear shorts and skirts as much as possible even in winter,'' and ``Long pants may be worn. "If you have a cold and want to wear long pants or tights in the school building, parents should contact the homeroom teacher."

At a municipal junior high school, windbreakers are allowed as winter clothing, but the school rules stipulate that coats and jumpers are prohibited.

what about other schools?

When I checked the rules, I was amazed.

Various things were decided in detail, such as clothes, hairstyles, and belongings.

"Women's hairstyles, etc., should be tied in two, not on the top or side of the head, but directly under the ears, or tied in one below the ear line. Do not use ponytails or twintails. General braids. In that case, tie it at the end of the braid.Do not make a bun or bun." "

Cardigans are prohibited. Tights are 80 denier

. "

is likely to lead to

In some cases, the school rules of Kure Municipal Junior High School stipulate, "Go home once and make sure you go to school properly" when there is a violation of your appearance.

The Hiroshima Prefectural Board of Education has clarified that even if there is a violation of school rules, ``we cannot send them home,'' because it will impair the opportunity to learn.

The Kure City Board of Education commented that it would review the school rules as soon as possible.

"I want to talk to you" eventually give up

A junior high school student from Hiroshima City who was instructed not to wear a jumper on January 25.

As soon as I started going to school again in early February, I was handing papers to my teachers.

"Students and teachers, children and adults, we are all human. We are cold too. Why don't we have the right to wear jumpers?"

I want to discuss the rules.

After handing over the paper, I asked the teachers if they were for or against wearing jumpers.

As a result, one teacher replied, "Isn't it okay if you wear it separately?", but most of them said, "From the teacher's point of view, no comment" or "Other."

The students began to think, ``I can't even talk about it, and the reaction is not what I expected.''

And he said he gave up halfway through.

The word "give up" was spoken by a junior high school student with a sad face in response to the interview.

I felt incredibly heavy.

Even if you feel doubts, the sense of blockage in the workplace

During the interview, teachers at multiple schools leaked:

“There are still school rules that were created when the school was “rough,” and it must have been necessary to make them stricter for the sake of peace at the time. There are many cases where I can't explain even if I'm told, and sometimes it's hard to just say 'rules are rules'."

“For example, when we were in elementary school, it was normal for us to wear shorts, and there was no question about it. It takes a lot of energy to make even a small change, and I understand that you don't want to do it while you're on assignment."

"School rules such as not wearing a coat are strange. There are many teachers who think that they have not been able to explain it. However, I am afraid that the local people will say something to me, for example, if my appearance is even a little off. However, I think that some teachers have a deep-rooted idea that ``it is natural to do what has been done for a long time.'' To be honest, in the midst of being busy and having a lot of work, there is no atmosphere to make such proposals, and it is necessary to gradually change I guess there's no choice but to go."

“No matter what you say”

In mid-February, the junior high school relaxed its rules after NHK made news reports about not allowing jumpers to be worn.

"If the parent or guardian believes that the child's health will be affected even if measures against the cold such as sweaters and scarves are taken, we will allow the wearing of outerwear such as a windbreaker over the uniform for the time being." I did.

The reason is that "there is a possibility that it will be cold from now on, so I thought about the health of the students."

The students accepted it, saying, "You finally thought about it."

However, he also said that among the students, there is still an atmosphere where saying something is not going to change, or saying something is useless.

“When I spoke, my thoughts were conveyed”

Is it really that difficult to change the rules?

I heard that there is a school where students are actively working on it.

One of them is a municipal junior high school in Asaminami Ward, Hiroshima City.

This school will change its rules from next year.

One of them is the "sweater".

Until now, it was supposed to wear a V-neck.

Because there was a tie in the uniform.

Three years ago, I stopped wearing ties, and now I can wear either a round neck or a cardigan.

It helps reduce the financial burden.

I heard the process of being able to change the school rules.

(1) Questionnaire to all students, "What do you want to change in school rules?"

(2) The student council examines the questionnaire results and explains them to the faculty and staff.

(3) Communicate the plan based on the points pointed out by the faculty and staff to all the students through the school announcement.

(4) Take a majority vote for each class, and the number of classes in favor exceeds the majority, and the revision is made.

It is said that what was important was ▽ to think on the student's initiative, and ▽ to be able to explain the background and reasons why it was necessary to change.

Principal of Hiroshima Municipal Junior High School

“We have reviewed the school rules from time to time, but the decisions were made by the teachers. I started thinking about it, but some of the students said, ``I was able to convey my thoughts when I said it.

"Experience that changes if you act"

"I think these kinds of things should be decided through public debates, not through interviews. Let's all discuss this at the table

. "

It was written by Dai Tamesue.

A former track and field athlete who participated in three consecutive Olympics, I spent my time in Hiroshima up to high school.

Mr. Tamesue has been thinking about rules that are closely related to sports.

In an interview, I asked him what he meant by these words.

Mr. Dai Tamesue

: “What I was wondering the most was why the idea that the rules can be changed is not born in Japan. I think that there is something like school rules in middle and high school at the very root.”

After retiring, Mr. Tamesue continues to work to convey the joy of track and field to children.

He points out that it is important to acquire “experiences that can change if you act” from a young age.

Dai Tamesue:

“When I teach Japanese children and children from other countries such as the United States about sports, I talk about the rules. In most countries, they ask, ``What can't you do?'' This is completely different. If you are going to live in a situation where there are things that are not permitted, the way it spreads will be completely different. I think it's definitely a disadvantage because sometimes I have to ask, "How far can I go with my life?"However, I don't think that all education in Japan is a problem. I think 80% of them are wonderful, and the remaining 20% ​​say their opinions properly and take risks to change something, and if they actually say it, it will change, and if they act, it will change. Based on that experience, even if you go out into society, everyone will try to change society.I think it is important in sports and beyond.Movement will change. I think you should experience this experience at least once in the educational process.”

Create an environment where you can speak freely

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology revised its guidance for student guidance last December.

Regarding school regulations, it is appropriate to publish them on the school website, etc., and to show the background of the enactment and the procedure for reviewing them. I expect to be asked.

I hope that the discussion will progress on what rules are really necessary to protect children, but if students say something different from others, the school will get distracted. Some teachers said that it might lead to bullying and school refusal.

What is always required is to “create an environment where people can speak up with peace of mind.”

A junior high school student who wanted to talk with the teachers but eventually gave up.

I believe that we, as adults and members of the community, must face this issue seriously so that the young people who will be responsible for the future do not give up on dialogue.

Reporter for Hiroshima Broadcasting Station

Yaki Shigeta Joined

the station in 2007

After working in the Science and Culture Department, current position since 2021