Club Activity reforms?

 I came across this article on Japan Today. 

Working in Junior High Schools, I have come across this problem quite a bit. Teachers are being assigned to supervise clubs that they are not trained for. While some teachers that supervise do have some experience in their assigned club - I've seen some teachers really get involved in clubs such as softball and basketball, and the art club I was in last year obviously had the art teacher supervising. - I've also seen some instances, especially in my current school where that isn't the case. One of the teachers I regularly speak to ended up being assigned to supervise the baseball club, though he expressed that he really wanted to supervise the soccer club, as has experience coaching soccer when he was working in China. Unfortunately, he was asked by the principal to coach the baseball team. While he is able to provide advice to students on how to condition their bodies (especially doing exercises focusing on their arms and legs), he doesn't have knowledge outside of (presumably) the basics of baseball.

I am not quite sure the full details how things work when being assigned - it's not quite clear whether the teachers are able to put some sort of preference to what club/team they want to supervise, or whether they're simply assigned at random. This news does show some promise but admittedly, three years seems a bit too long for implementing reform. Hopefully, it will also allow for teachers (and students) to have the weekend to themselves. It would also be nice for reforms to allow junior high school students the option to take club activities. As it is now, they are required to pick a club to attend after school and Saturdays. For kids that are in to that, good for them. On the other hand, I don't believe that students who don't want to get involved should be forced to participate in something after school has finished for the day.

(Unofficial) Last Day of School

Today was my (unofficial) last day of school. Technically, my last day was last Thursday, which was a sudden announcement by my employer. However, my school invited me to come in today for not only lunch and a proper farewell, but also to see the students, who have come to not only submit their three weeks' worth of homework, but also to get the results of their last test. It was also an opportunity to give a proper farewell to the students in the Art Club that I joined at the beginning of last year.

We all gathered in one of the spare rooms, where the head of the club gave a short speech, before her and each of the members one by one gave me a farewell letter that they wrote. I gave them a short speech in return - I told them the usual how fun it was to hang out with them and such, but the most important thing for me was thanks to them, I was inspired to get back in to drawing on a more regular basis, and helped kick my imagination back in to gear... that and having my tablet to draw certainly helped. Afterwards we headed outside in front of the blooming sakura, and with Mt. Tsukuba in the back where we had our photos taken. Some were taken on my tablet, and some were taken on the teacher's phone. I was worried that with the sudden suspension of classes, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to properly say goodbye to them. Fortunately, I had the chance, and have no regrets. I told some of the other students, but not all of them, but with kids being kids, the news will spread quickly before the start of the new semester.

After that, I had a bento lunch provided for me in the teachers' room. Though they also gave me a farewell send off, gave me some flowers - apparently they are called multiple fold Sakura - and I gave a quick speech. Then we had lunch. Shortly after lunch I decided to head off, but not before personally thanking the Principal, Vice Principal and Head teacher for the past three years (despite the principal and vice principal only being in the school for the past 1 and 2 years respectively, but anyway). Just as I was about to head off, the English teachers gave me a going away present and thanking me for assisting them - while most of the English teachers only started this school year, I have worked with one for the last two years, and the other teacher for all three years. The teachers were pretty nice, and it is going to feel weird heading in to new schools with uncertainty of how those teachers will be. Hopefully they'll at least be as nice as the teachers I have had until now.

After that, I headed to Abiko in Chiba to pick up the keys to my new apartment, and to sort out payment methods and parking, because the person I was speaking to previously in their International Support division has oddly gone dark and have not heard back from them regarding my payment and parking inquiries. Fortunately, I was able to get it all sorted it out, so I'm just about ready to go. However, due to how much stuff I have, I will be shifting some of my things in to my new apartment tomorrow morning, before the company comes to help me move the rest on Thursday.

Joining Club Activities

Unlike the last two years at my Junior High School, I decided to participate and join in club activities this year. The reason I didn't get involved until now, has been because it's usually run after my scheduled hours are over. However, I decided to join the Art club specifically for two reasons:

1. To keep practicing my drawing on a regular basis. Ever since spring break, I've been admittedly slacking off on that part.
2. To try new things. Since I only draw things that I want to draw, joining the Art club has been a good chance to draw things I normally wouldn't draw.

The art club is admittedly small, and the majority of members are girls, and only one boy who is also the only 3rd Grader in the club.

Anyway, from what I understand Art club is usually broken down in to 3 sections (or 2.5, depending how you look at it)

• Quick sketching - A student poses in front of the club room, and everyone has to draw that student in 5 minutes. It is good practice for me to speed up on drawing the basic shapes before filling the details, as I usually only finish the basic frame by the time the 5 minutes are up. Depending on the pose the student does, I may be able to finish in time.
• Sketch your own hand - Self explanatory. I think it's a similar time limit. Fortunately, since it's only a hand, I can usually finish in time
• Drawing/Painting a poster - From what I understood, there were three themes we could choose. Two of them were relating to the upcoming local elections (I think), and feelings/emotions. I can't remember what the third theme was. In any case, I picked the feelings/emotions theme. At this point, all the 2nd and 3rd grade students (and myself) have finished the posters, so we're helping the 1st graders their posters.

Since joining the art club, I have been practicing both my pencil work and my digital work (I've also been bringing my tablet to school). I have to admit, I'm having a lot of fun in this club. The students are also supposed to be submitting sketches to use for the chorus contest that will be happening later this year. While the teacher in charge of the club, and the students don't mind me submitting something, I feel like it's kind of a dick move to do so, considering that the students are supposed to be the ones submitting the work. I don't mind drawing something, and I have put something together, but I feel like I shouldn't submit it. I spoke to my girlfriend about this, and she also agrees with this.

Unfortunately, I think interactive forum practice will be starting next month after Golden Week, so I don't think I'll be able to join in on club activities until after summer break. I'll see how it goes, as I'm definitely having fun, and the students enjoy having me there.