N.Z.-Japanese exchange mooted

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33154, 19 February 1973, Page 16

N.Z.-Japanese exchange mooted

A regular mutual ex-1 change of high-school pupils and teachers between Japan and New Zealand would be enthusiastically supported by Japanese interests, said the leaders of a party of Japanese educationists in Christchurch, Messrs K. lijima and T. Morita said that it was inevitable that once financial matters had been solved, an aproach would be made by the Japanese authorities to the New Zealand Government to facilitate the beginnings of a formal exchange scheme. "This must come about, as it is very important for international understanding.” Mr lijima said. Both men emphasised the I importance which Japan places, during its present! period of educational reform, on learning about the education systems of other countries. The party of 30 teachers,! school supervisors, and na- f tional administrators, which i has spent the last two days visiting primary schools, intermediate schools, and high! schools in Christchurch, is only one of 33 similar groups j which the Japanese Ministry! ) of Education has sent over-1 seas in the last year. The Japanese education system which since World War II has modelled itself !closely on American methods! and is now concentrating on the development of new approaches more suited to a broader view of education. “We wish to move away

'from the American style and! I form a new approach based on what we can learn from many other countries,” Mr Morita said. Asked if Japanese schools used corporal punishment, both men waved their hands in amazement that such a system of discipline was necessary in schools. The Japanese way of life ensured that the strict order of personal discipline practised in the home carried over naturally to the schools. Jit was also worth noting that Japanese schools “from kindergarten upwards” were ' places of strong competition . —Japanese students worked excessively hard at their studies. Both men said that the visits which the group had made to schools in Christ- ! church had impressed them 1 because of the spontaneity )|of the pupils with whom they ihad spoken, and the friendli- • ness and lack of formality ! they had noted among teach- ■ ers. Commenting on State aid Jto private schools in Japan, I Messrs lijima and Morita J said that this was accepted ' practice in Japan, and was generally financed at local J level. Many of the private “schools, part of a well devel)ioped national system, were most exclusive and most exI pensive to attend. There were a few organised by church groups, but most were organ- ! ised by private companies. ! The interview with the two Japanese educationalists was conducted through an interpreter, Mrs R. Graham, a Japanese teacher at Shirley Boys’ High School.

Mrs Graham will leave New Zealand soon as a guest of the Japanese Ministry of Education to take part in an intensive Japanese language course in Japan. She will be joined by another teacher of Japanese, Mr T. Jones, of Auckland Grammar School.

The two New Zealanders will link up with a group of 68 other Japanese language teachers from other countries during their four-week study tour of Japan.