There is a sad reality in Japanese education. According to a survey by the Ministry of Education in 2023, the number of school teachers who took leave of absence last year due to mental illness such as depression increased by more than 10% to 6,539, exceeding 6,000 for the first time and the highest ever. The Ministry of Education’s survey also revealed that the number of teachers in their 20s who are taking leave due to mental illness is increasing. There are very few young teachers who have the know-how to manage a classroom right from the start. It is difficult to get used to entering the educational field from university and teaching and supporting children. As they adjust to school, having a supportive system of experienced colleagues is essential.
Kyoto City Iwakura Kita Elementary School has introduced a “team homeroom system” with four teachers in four second grade classes. A team of four people was formed when a veteran teacher was transferred and the staff was now in their 20s and 30s. The relationship between children and teachers, which tends to be closed under a fixed homeroom teacher system, is now more open. There are more opportunities for teachers to talk with each other, and they are all on the same page. Teachers can also complement each other, and there are benefits to not having to deal with outstanding issues alone. The team teacher system reduces the psychological burden on teachers by supporting each other. The “Team Homeroom Teacher System” at Kyoto City Iwakura Kita Elementary School is popular with children and their parents. The advantage of the “team homeroom teacher system” seems to be that the relationships between teachers, students, and parents have become more flexible, whereas the fixed homeroom teacher system was one-sided.
The high level of Japanese lesson study was internationally famous. Self-directed training activities had become a feature of Japanese teacher culture. Compared to other countries, Japan was also outstanding in terms of its enthusiasm for voluntary training activities. However, voluntary training activities are starting to show signs of slowing down. The potential of teachers’ voluntary training activities is weakening. The world is shifting from teaching to learning. Values are beginning to shift from the ability to store knowledge to the ability to utilize knowledge. Regarding teaching training, there are an increasing number of countries in Europe and the United States that training is conducted over six months to a year. In Japan, full-fledged educational practical training begins from the time you take up your current position. In many cases, the training of new teachers is left to the on-site teachers. Insufficient capacity of new teachers and overburdened teachers are causing a decline in Japan’s educational capabilities. If possible, you should be able to secure enough time to research study materials. A team homeroom system may help ensure this.
