Should Children Clean Schools? Japan Stage 5 Comprehension PDF

STAGE 5 Unit focus: Japan Text focus: Information Text Should Children Clean Their Schools? There are many differences between Japanese and UK schools but one that often raises eyebrows is that a...

STAGE 5 Unit focus: Japan Text focus: Information Text Should Children Clean Their Schools? There are many differences between Japanese and UK schools but one that often raises eyebrows is that all children in Japanese schools are expected to help clean the school each day. Not only that, but children also serve meals and sometimes participate in community clean-ups in their local area too. So, is this a chance for children to learn valuable skills and develop a sense of community and responsibility, or does it instead just eat into teaching time or, as some might accuse, is it just a way of ge ng free labour out of children who have no opportunity to say no! Cleaning time in Japan is called o-soji. It is not a quick tidy up as happens in many schools around the world. Instead, children work in teams, mopping, vacuuming and scrubbing their classrooms and the communal areas such as corridors, libraries and offices. Sometimes, older children help younger ones and, far from being seen as a chore or a punishment, there is often an air of jollity as children work. Cleaning sessions take around 20 minutes each day with longer stints every term or half term. On the one hand, advocates of o-soji, praise the way it promotes a sense of community and belonging. They suggest that taking a shared responsibility for the school binds the children together and encourages them to take pride in their surroundings. After all, children spend all day in their school: why shouldn’t they play a part in looking after it? Moreover, it is suggested that the system means less mess in the first place. Li ering can be a problem in some UK schools and some others have problems with graffiti on tables for example. Would this happen if children knew they would be the ones cleaning it up? Another argument in favour of this practice is that the Japanese believe that children learn be er in a tidy environment. An ordered classroom creates the conditions for an ordered mind. Keeping these conditions is far easier with all hands on deck. Finally, cleaning is a life A skill and helps prepare children for later life and for when they have ding ro Rea und all resources ©2023 Literacy Shed e um C u r r ic ul Th http://www.literacyshedplus.com their own homes. On the other hand, however, are those who argue that such a system would not work in UK schools and is unfair. They point to the packed curriculum and question whether this is a good use of children’s valuable learning time. After all, isn’t the purpose of school to learn English and maths and so on. In addition, they question whether it is reasonable to put another burden on children who are already work hard all day and need time to play and socialise with friends. Some cynical critics might even wonder if asking children to clean was just a way of school’s saving money on cleaning staff. What do you think: is this a wonderful way of developing children’s sense of responsibility and fostering a sense of community, or is it just an unfair misuse of children’s time? VOCABULARY FOCUS 1. What does ‘communal’ mean? 2. What is a ‘stint’? 3. Find and copy a word which is close in meaning to ‘supporters’. 4. What is meant by the phrase ‘all hands on deck’? 5. What does cynical mean? VIPERS QUESTIONS I How can we tell that people in the UK are sometimes surprised by the fact that Japanese children clean their school? I How do Japanese children feel about o-soji? R How long are the daily cleaning sessions? E What is the purpose of the 2nd paragraph? S In your own words, summarise the arguments in favour of o-soji. all resources ©2023 Literacy Shed http://www.literacyshedplus.com