Education Essay

Chika Obata
600A
2/5/09
Draft#3
Risk of Changing Education Systems
In several countries, people try to change education systems. For example, 10 years ago, the Japanese government changed education systems because many students felt pressure, and juvenile delinquencies had been increasing. This new education policy is called “Yutori education” whose purpose is free from pressure. However, this is a controversy issue in Japan because it has not worked well. In addition, there are more problems than ever before. Therefore, the Japanese government is likely to change from this policy to an old policy that was used before. It is dangerous to change education systems, and there are some reasons.
Japanese old education systems have three weak points. First, learning is separate from living (Holts2). Second, learning is passive process (2). Third, learning is so strict. “Yutori education” challenges these points. According Holts, children need chances to study outside school (8). While having to go to school six times a week in the past, they go to school five times a week now. It means that they have chances to study what they want having enough time more than before. However, their grade is going down, so many students go to another private school to study hard to get better score.
Holts also recommend abolishing required curriculums (14). The Japanese government reduced contents in curriculums, and they made some choices that students study. At that time, the number of students who felt pressure committed murder was increasing. They bore a grudge against teachers and parents to death. Some professionals thought that they need experiences and relationship, and they need to be free from pressure because of Japanese strict education systems. However, their grades were going down and problems of juvenile delinquency didn’t be solved. At last, The Japanese government decided to increase curriculum contents.
After the Japanese government changed an education policy, some students were confused. For example, my friend who was university student, she wanted to study something which is different from her major. However, the Japanese government changed curriculums, so she had to study new things that she hadn’t studied in high school. Even if contents in curriculums are reduced, there are still competitions of entering university. Therefore, many students feel pressure and study hard.
In conclusion, people should not change education system because it is so risky, and it is so difficult to change what they were. Actually, “Yutori education” is failing and confusing students. It couldn’t solve three weak points in Japanese education. In short, people should think that changing something is not always good for them.
Works Cited:
John, Holt. “School is Bad for Children”. New Directions: Reading, Writing, and
Critical Thinking. Ed. Peter S. Gardner. New York: Cambridge University
Press. May 3, 2005