Working in a state-run junior high school, I’m well aware of how difficult some students can be. But that said, a 39-year-old Kagoshima teacher’s approach to discipline and class participation could be described as drastic to say the least.
During an art class on April 13, the teacher in question asked the students what colours they could name. But unfortunately for one boy, by the time it came to his turn most of the colours he knew had already been mentioned. The resultant pause as he desperately tried to think of an unused colour angered his decidedly impatient instructor, and before he knew it the teacher took out a paper cutter and shouted, “I’ll slash you if you can’t answer!â€
Presumably the boy did answer, as there was no report of bodily harm, but that didn’t stop a disgruntled parent complaining to the school’s headmaster. And in a bid to diffuse the situation, principle Fukumoto said, “We are sorry for terrifying children.â€
After admitting to the allegations, the cutter-wielding teacher apologised to the student and his parents. Bravely justifying his behaviour by claiming, “I did it to speed up the class.â€
Bunny says
He should try a chainsaw, next time. Just a suggestion.
Colin says
This is hardly funny.
Brutalising children in the name of education is abhorrent and utterly indefensible.
The teacher in question should have been sacked on the spot and then blacklisted, to prevent him ever setting foot in a classroom again.
But (as is the way in Japan, where not making a fuss is far more important than decency, justice or common humanity) the whole event was dismissed with an apology and a lame excuse. And said teacher will continue to bully small children.
One might think that, after all the recent uproar (and consequent fuss) over school textbook censorship, the Japanese Ministry of Education might be going through a process of critical reflection…
quaisi says
I`m an ALT too. That sounds a bit harsh but the kids can be EXTREMELY slow. I think it was just a joke that backfired on him.
Toni says
If you read the rest of the article, it mentions that at his last job, he was fired because he threatened two girls with a ruler for answering too slow. If this is the guy’s idea of a “joke”, shouldn’t he have learned from his past experience that threatening children with physical harm is not considered funny?
No, there’s something wrong with him, and it isn’t his sense of humor.
Bunny says
Second thought… Perhaps, he should pull out a Katana (Samurai sword), next time. My goodness, the choices are infinite.
I once saw a teacher threaten a child with a Bread fruit. Dreadful commotion.
Bunny says
Hockey stick….. Baseball bat…..
Alexa says
Wow, and he got to keep his job. He would have gotten ran out of the school here.
Norm says
Of course, don’t anyone dare speak to children without respect. Idiots… kids were physically punished for a long time in schools and it didn’t do much harm. I am not in favour of policies where kids are routinely beaten, but an occasional threat is nothing to worry about. Unless, of course, you can’t think rationally about it, like Alexa or Colin.