Ideal education in Kashiwa city
-Community supports Education
I want to change the educational system in Kashiwa city.
Education is not only for kids but for community.
The community supports education and education makes the community better. Education is a reliable investment for the future.
I hope people learn not only in school but in every part of the city, learn from life as well as textbooks and take responsibility for their own actions and communities.
In Kashiwa city, everyone can keep learning from birth to death.
How can we create such an educational system in Kashiwa city?
I used to be a high school teacher.
12 years ago, I quit being a teacher and started studying education pedagogy at graduate school.
I was interested in Reggio Emilia city in Italy because in the city the community supports education.
I want to bring the Reggio Emilia education system to Kashiwa city.
9 years ago, I established Kashiwa Machi-naka College.
This college doesn’t have buildings, curriculums or teachers.
Instead, you can learn in the town when you want to, become a teacher and learn from each other.
Through research and community activities, I am acutely aware that education is not a problem only for schools.
Although the educational budget is increasing in Kashiwa city, it is unfortunately a policy that raises the score of paper tests and attracts parents.
We must change from test preparation to ideal education to create the future.
Citizenship education is required in the world.
Citizenship education is to nurture the qualities and abilities as citizens.
It gives students the ability to maintain a smooth human relationship in society, such as respecting others, the rights and responsibilities of individuals, and the value of diversity of race and culture.
We can learn citizenship in the community.
From now on, I suggest students should learn outside from school like Kashiwa Machinaka College, and adults should work and do community activities in the school.
Schools have been restructured all around Japan.
Even in Kashiwa City, abolition of three schools is being considered.
I disagree with school abolition.
On this occasion, let’s make a school where adults and children can learn together!
The number of school kids has been decreased. However, adults can utilize vacant spaces in the schools.
I propose not to abolish schools but to share schools.
One of the current trends in education is the school complex system.
A variety of organizations including the young and elderly, live together in school facilities in order to collaborate and have harmonious effects.
I hope to realize that school is the center of community.
Education is a reliable investment for the future.
Thank you so much for your kind attention. Thank you.