Empowering Students: Advocating for Democratic School Rules and Children’s Rights in Japan

2024-01-22 11:49:35

Citing the lack of progress in reviewing the unreasonable “Black School Rules,” the Japan Youth Council, a civic group, announced on the 22nd that it will involve not only principals but also students, teachers, and parents in decision-making regarding school rules. The school submitted a proposal to Nobuo Yasue, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, calling for a system of “democracy within schools.” The plan included stipulating in the law that children’s rights be respected in schools, and that students participate in the process of amending school regulations. (Tetsuya Enomoto)

◆We revised the handbook for teachers, but it has not been widely adopted.

Members of the “Study Council for Institutionalizing School Democracy” handing over their recommendations to Nobuo Yasue, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (third from the right), at the House of Councilors Building in Nagatacho, Tokyo on the 22nd.

The recommendations were compiled by the “Study Committee to Consider Institutionalizing Democracy in Schools,” which was established by the council last year. 14 people, including high school students, university students, teachers, and experts, discussed while learning regarding efforts by the United Nations and local governments regarding children’s rights.

▽Respect for children’s rights in schools is clearly stated in laws such as the Fundamental Law of Education.
▽Clarify procedures for revising school regulations and establish a “School Regulations Committee” consisting of students, teachers, and parents at each school.
▽Strengthening democratic education and rights education

etc.

Two years ago, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology revised its handbook for teachers, “Student Guidance Guidelines,” for the first time. Although measures have been taken to make school rules public and to review school rules whose meaning cannot be explained, unreasonable school rules have not disappeared. “Some junior high schools have created “student guidelines” in addition to the school rules, and are effectively instructing students on the color of socks and the length of their bangs, saying “this is what is desirable,”” said Gunji, a member of the review committee and a graduate student at Chiba University. Hinano (24) says.

Yuji Nishimura (44), a teacher at Gifu Prefectural High School, said, “Although the content of the Student Guidance Guidelines is excellent, it has not been widely accepted.No one except those in management positions have read it.The spirit of the guidelines needs to be enshrined in law.”


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