A recent survey by the Japanese education ministry shows a worrying steady increase of students refusing to go to school and has been found evident in both elementary and junior high school levels for the past three years. Some 126,000 students in both levels are on casual absenteeism on last October’s statistics. Apparently, students’ refusal to attend school has rooted in anxiety, apathy, and domestic conditions. Friendship with other children and academic struggles also have contributed to the problem.
There is an urgency in addressing the issue considering the many factors that have caused it and the things that may come of it. The education sector is fighting an uphill battle against the “there-is-no-need-for-children-to-be-sent-to-school” mentality. It is encouraged that parents and guardians, members of the faculty, and social workers collaborate in motivating the youth to get their much-needed education.
Vocabulary:
steady – happening or developing in a continuous and usually gradual way
absenteeism – chronic absence from school
urgency – a quality or state of requiring immediate action or attention
uphill – difficult, laborious
collaborate – to work jointly, to cooperate with
True or False:
- There is an alarming increase in the number of elementary and high school students refusing to go school, according to a recent Japanese education ministry show.
- Some of these 126,000 students are on casual absenteeism from last September’s statistics.
- These students’ refusal to go to school is rooted in anxiety, apathy, and domestic conditions.
- The education sector is fighting an uphill battle against the ‘there-is-need-for-children-to-be-sent-to-school’ mentality.
- Parents or guardians, members of the faculty, and social workers has to collaborate in motivating the youth to get their much-needed education.
Defend your argument:
- How important is education to one’s child? Why?
- Aside from students’ own anxiety as mentioned in the article, do tolerating parents count as one of the factors while these kids refuse to go to school?
- Does the government has to take action about the issue?
- If the child refuses to go to school, so be it. It is the child’s choice. Do you agree?
Express your opinion:
- If you were a teacher, how will you inspire your students to value education?
- If you have something to say to your past/present teachers, what would it be?
- Share your thoughts about this quote: “The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” – William Arthur Ward