7/17/2000

Substitute Teaching in Japan

I received a fascinating letter, printed below, from a Japanese woman who moved to the U.S. five years ago. She had read an article about poorly trained substitute teachers here that prompted her to write about contrasts in Japan.

Untrained Substitutes are not a Good Idea

"I am from Japan. I moved here about five years ago and go to university in CT. My major is elementary education. I learned that in the U.S. substitute teachers are not required to have a teaching certificate, and some of my classmates have worked for some schools as a sub. I was very surprised to learn that, because in Japan even substitute teachers need to have a teaching certificate and teaching experience.

"When I was in elementary school a long time ago (more than forty years ago), one of my classroom teachers quit working because she had a baby during the middle of the year. The substitute teacher was a veteran teacher who worked for the school for many years, and she did not have her classroom at that time. Therefore, we had no problems for the situation. It was a good experience for me to know many different types of teachers. Moreover, we were happy for my classroom teacher to have her baby. Through classroom teachers' circumstances such as illness and having babies, children can learn about how their life would be in the future, and it is very important for children to learn about it through people who are close to them.

"However, children should have the right to learn better by qualified teachers who have the experiences and a teaching certificate while their classroom teachers cannot work for them for some reason, because a good education is very important for them. For students who will be a teacher, it is a good experience for them to work with children as a sub, but they still need someone who can watch their teaching methods.

"Of course, a few students may have a better way to work with children than classroom teachers, but they are not many. For example, I have worked for Japanese school on Saturdays and have a college student as my assistant. She would like to be a children's teacher in Japan. She has enthusiasm for the profession and tried to work with them, but she had no idea how to work with children even though she loves kids. Now she has learned about it step by step, and she is doing better and better every time I give her some advice.

"Although I am not sure that all the states in the U.S. allow people who are not qualified for the teaching to work with children as a sub, it is not a good idea to do so. Children can do better with their wise parents and professional teachers. Education is the foundation for children's future."

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Letters from readers about the CT Girls Technology Network

"Thank you for writing about the Girls Technology Network. We have received some requests from SNET readers about the information and have also received offers to help from within SNET as a result. We appreciate your help in spreading the word about us, because the issues we address are so critical. The seeming reluctance of girls to engage with technology is unsettling, not only in terms of missed opportunities for girls as individuals, but also because it directly impacts the quality of the workforce. If Connecticut hopes to attract and keep companies in the state, particularly those in the "New Economy" industries, the state has to offer a well-trained workforce, not half of one!" Jean Rozett

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"I am pleased to see that there is an organization of Connecticut Girls Technology Network. I believe the efforts of this organization will have far-reaching effects for our national economy in the long run. Bringing on board girls in this new work world will serve to expand the brainpower to develop new ideas for daily uses of the computer. The creative energy of men and women will serve us all." We need the creative energy of men AND women!

Please send questions or comments to bbruno@snet.net.