Dr. Shunishi Ishikuza, Fullbrighter. Middle Row: Russ Counterman, Carol Moran, Amanda Williams, Carol Macintyre, Debra Rook, Courtney Bullock, Donna Numeroff, Rosa Hemphill, Chantel Acevedo, and Masako Yamamoto (our interpreter, partly visible). Seated: A city official, Fé MacLean, Dr. Shunishi Ishikuza, Dr. Hiroyuki Skegawa, Louise Flax, Karolyn Henderson, and Katie Shadburne |
We first did a courtesy visit to the Mayor, Dr. Hiroyuki Skegawa, of the city. He gave us each a set of chopsticks in a nicely wrapped red box. We had the chance to ask questions and took photographs with him. We then went to the Tsuchiura City Board of Education with the Superintendent and five members of the board. We had the chance to ask questions after the presentation. From the Education building, we headed for Mito. On the way we stopped at a rest area with a lunch room where we had box Japanese lunches, very good. We arrived in Mito at Ibaraki University at 1:30 PM. An air-conditioned room!!! Heaven.
At Ibaraki University, a panel of four professors from the Department of Education described teacher preparation at their school and the requirements for getting a teaching certificate. Again, we had the chance to ask questions. The Mito FMF group, primarily teachers of hearing-impaired students, many of whom were themselves hearing impaired, was also present. After questions, we left for the “Attached” junior high school to see extra curricular activities that occur after the school day ends at 4: 30. We used slippers...first time I used the black slippers I had brought. We wore slippers through the halls and then out onto the sidewalk to another building (gym) where chairs were set up for us. I was told we wore slippers anywhere in the school, but not on the outside ground. The vice principal talked to us and described his school program; Becky Scott also spoke with us--she was an assistant in the school, talking with every students once a week (she worked 3 days a week). She was retained to give students a chance to hear what an authentic English accent sounds like. She described a school with low behavioral problems, with students very busy and involved during the day; with parents (mothers) very involved with their children’s education. Of the extra curricular activities we could observe--homemaking (flower arranging, tea ceremony, calligraphy), computers, field and track, ...), I observed the computer activity. In a class with some 40 computers (average class size 40), only some 10 students were present, all working on different types of things..word processing, internet, drawing. One student had used a composer program to compose a full piece of music. The computers ALL seemed to be working. They ran on Windows and had Word, the Japanese version, for processing. Very impressive. Today some half of the students were at a practice for an athletic competition that is occurring tomorrow, so we did not see all the students. The uniforms were dark skirts and white blouses for the girls and dark slacks, white shirts, and dark ties for the boys. After the observation, we returned to the gym for cookies and drinks. We had the chance to ask a few more questions, then left for Tsuchiura.
The reception at 6 PM in the second floor banquet room of the Hotel Marroad Tsukuba was held for us to meet our host families and to have a chance to talk with many of the city and school officials and dignitaries we met during our visits. Master Teacher Program teachers and their hosts were also present. After the welcome from Dr. Skegawa, the mayor, and from Dr. Shunishi Ishikuza, a Fulbrighter from FMF, I gave a thank-you speech on behalf of our group of teachers. I mostly read it. It was translated as I went by our interpreter. The mayor surprised our group with paper balloons. In the morning meeting with him, Carol Macintyre had expressed thanks for the help she had seen when she was looking for these paper balloons at a hardware store and the trouble to which the store person had gone in locating a store with these paper balloons. In a VERY thoughtful gesture, the mayor had gotten one of these balloons for each of us. Then I met Yukiko Sato of my host family. She called her daughters to come join us for dinner. Each teacher and host family were called to the stage. Yuki had been at work until 3, then taught her class til 5:30, then rushed to the reception. She is very busy. We enjoyed a sumptuous banquet. The girls loved the desserts. We chatted about email, school, etc. At 8 PM when the banquet ended, we received photos from the Rev. Oshima, the Buddhist monk, along with small bamboo helicopters which he had made to remind us of our Zen Meditation activity with him.
Meeting the Mayor (arriving on left). |
Mayor of Tsuchiura City: Dr. Hiroyuki Skegawa |
Carlen Gilseth extending our greeting. |
Mr. Misu, one of our guides from the Board of Education |
At the Board of Education. |
The Superintendent of the Tsuchiura City Schools. |
Louise Flax made Origame business card holders for our presentations. Thank you, Louise! |
Lunch at a Restaurant on the way to Mito City. |
Professors from Ibaraki University: How they prepare teachers |
Junior High Students at the Ibaraki University Attached Junior High School. |
Extra Curricular Activity: Computers (after 4:30 PM) |
Extra Curricular Activity: Computers These students worked on different programs according to their interest. |
Meeting with Junior High School Vice Principal and Teachers |
Extra Curricular Activity: Baseball |
Comments to R. Hemphill