Classes I

From Secondheaven

Classes and classwork in Japanese schools are very uniform. A homeroom is visited by the teachers that instruct their course, and their courses, save two fundamental tracks of learning, are completely uniform up until their third year.

First and second years can choose whether they are studying World History or Japanese History, and the students of that year will switch classrooms (1-1 to say 1-3,) to reflect that choice during this time period. They may also choose one of three art courses for their first and second years to reflect their required art credit.

The Subjects All Students Have To Take, Years 1 + 2

   * Math
     Business
     Science
     The Humanities (Lit + Culture)
     English
     Japanese
     PE
     *History
     **Home Ec

           Art
           One of the following
         o Music
           Art
           Writing

• Chosen between World History or Japanese/Local History
  • Second Year Only

Science Or Math? Third Years

In the third year, students choose which subjects they'd like to focus on in University, and are reorganized this year into numbers via performance and interest.

Third Years

     Science
   * Science
     Business
     Math
     PE
     English
     Japanese
     *History

           Science Choices [Pick 1 main and 1 Secondary]
         o Chemistry
           Biology
           Physics
           Physical Sciences

     Humanities
     Ancient Japanese/Old English
     Modern Japanese/English Rhetoric
     Math
     Science
     Anthropology/Culture
     *History

           Humanities Choices [Pick 1 Literature and 1 Other, or 2 Literatures]
         o Japanese Literature
           World Literature
           Art
           Music
           Writing

• same choice as from year 1

That's it for now! Consider whether you'd like the world or Japan at your fingertips historically, would you?

Passing Periods

Though Classes do vary at times for how long they are, passing periods are uniform. Ten minutes between each class. Since students do not often leave the classroom, this ten minute period is spent talking with friends, visiting other friends in different classrooms, adorning hair, or otherwise getting ready for the next class. Each desk, since sat in daily by students, is often personalized - one can TELL that is "Sei's desk," for instance.

Lunch is again, often held within the classroom - so the classrooms really are as uniform and as central to the government of the school as possible!

- Dr. Harold Arrowny, p.h.D