Education Insufficient

In a train of subway in Tokyo, one cannot get through without any instruction on your behavior. “Do not rush the train,” “Yield your seat to the elderly, handicapped passenger, or expecting mother,” and “Be careful of your hand not to be caught in closing door,” are some of typical examples. This is the reflection of a uniqueness of Japanese society, in which obedience is regarded as a virtue of citizens. Education plays a major role of constructing this kind of common sense.

Input occupies most part of education in Japan. A student needs to memorize a huge number of English words and idioms, grammar of ancient Japanese language, various theories of mathematics including factorization or Pythagorean theorem, and causes and results of civil wars in middle age in Japan. To pass major examinations, mostly five times a year, students are busy in listening to what their teachers tell and in reading books. There is no time for expressing his opinion in the classroom. The class naturally becomes one-way dialogue from a teacher to students.

In schools in Japan, adultness means being gentle. During the speech of the principal in a hall, a student standing still, listening carefully, and being silent is treated as manners of a grown-up. So, students are too silent in the classroom. When a teacher asks an opinion on a past event in history class, students are mostly hesitant to expose his/her idea. In United States, a teacher may say “Make some noise!” to urge some response to an issue. There is no such words as “Make some noise” in Japan. Showing excitement is just an effusion of childishness.

Passive attitude toward information and virtue of obedience construct dependence on leaders in society and politics. Only a few smart students have an experience of changing teachers mind by discussion, because somewhat pointless argument is always been dismissed by top-down power game. As a result, people are easy to persuade for leaders, and leaders recognize guiding people to the direction they think right is their main job. As long as a man can safely move from one place to another, he will follow all the instruction in the subway train.

However, this is a skillful measure of the government to let people ignore violation of individual rights. Even when the government started censoring what the people are talking about through the internet, people in Japan would believe that it is working for their benefit. But the thing is not only about Japan. Cyber penetration occurs beyond borders. If the people in Japan think that they can maintain their life only by following governmental instruction, they will encounter a tragic consequence. Education needs to be making students strong enough to live as a citizen.