I have struggled for weeks with how to broach this topic properly so it may be of interest to JETs. Hopefully I can empathize with those who have been in similar situations. I would like to describe a personal conflict that I have encountered in two different educational forums, at a junior high school and at a kendo practice: the use of violence in teaching.

My first encounter with the use of violence as a form of disciplining came from my father who used to spank my sister and I when were "naughty". This form of discipline may be deemed acceptable by many of you and perhaps would not full under your definition of violence, but in my opinion, it is never acceptable to use physical strength when disciplining. There are always other options.

I suppose my spankings were, in a way, a form of education. Here in Japan, I have seen violence through slapping, hitting, and even kicking used not only for disciplining, but also educating. I have seen a parent slap his son fairly hard in my evening elementary school English conversations class for not paying close enough attention. In my first year on the JET Programme, (I have now finished my third year) I just happened to walk by a classroom to witness a young male teacher slap and push three students as he reprimanded them. I had no idea what to do, as this sort of disciplining is unacceptable in Canada, my home country. A teacher would be fired and barred from teaching, possibly forever. I approached the JTE about what I witnessed only to be advised to "keep quiet". Since I am not a very passive person, this went against my natural instincts. But, since I did not know a thing about Japan or how to speak its language, I followed the JTE’s advice and remained silent.

I had not witnessed a similar incident until last September at the same school, but with a different teacher. I was walking around the school grounds collecting garbage with two of my genkiest students when we came across a teacher yelling at a student. As we walked past, we witnessed the teacher repeatedly slap and then push the student. Once again, I didn’t know what I was to do. If this had been Canada, I would have interceded and removed the student from the situation. So, why is Japan any different and why is my reaction so different? I am ashamed to say that I didn’t intercede in this confrontation, but I did approach the Principal. I gathered myself in the washroom, and conferred with my dictionary so as to accurately relate my feelings and sentiments to him. I recounted the scene I had witnessed, informed him of how much it upset me, and asked if such a form of discipline was acceptable at his school. He assured me that it wasn’t and that he, too, doesn’t support such a from of discipline. During a teacher’ meeting when I was absent (I teach at three jr. highs), the Principal spoke of the situation I had seen. He emphasized that such actions are unacceptable at school. I was pleased when I heard of the Principal’s words, but dismayed when I further discussed the violence towards children with a few teachers at the school. I spoke with a young, strict JTE who basically told me that I was overstepping myself. He, too, at times strikes students since "it is the only way some students will listen and learn". And yet, he has never attempted giving the student extra homework or a detention. Such disciplinary action seems to be "foreign" here in Japan. As I kept my rising temper from boiling over, I told the JTE that I had to disagree. I further explained my view of children being just that, children, and thus will continue to misbehave. They don’t always know any better. Therefore, it is up to us as educators to inform them of their actions and the consequences, not to teach them inappropriate behavior through violence.

I was further disheartened when I was consulted two kindly female teachers. These women informed me that although they would never touch a student, they do, at times, hit their children (one has a two-year-old, one has a five-year-old) when disciplining. I don’t know whether they literally "hit" their children or "just slap" them. The bottom line is that these gentle teachers will use force to discipline their children.

One positive outcome from approaching the Principal is that the teacher that hit the student apologized to me for his actions, albeit under the influence of alcohol at an enkai. He assured me that he has not laid a finger on a student since and promised never to again. Whether this is the truth or not, at least he is aware of my feelings and beliefs.

Only three weeks later, I had my next encounter with violence in teaching. I was next to line in spar with one of the coaches in my Kendo class when the coach suddenly began to "beat up" on the player ahead of me, his son. Kendo is a martial art, and quite rough at times, but there was no mistake that the coach had crossed the line into the realm of violence. First of all, he had the child (fifth grade in elementary school) running around for a good 15 minutes, to the point of sheer exhaustion. The boy would come into contact with the coach only to be pushed away with such force that the child would continuously fall over. While on the ground, the coach then kicked his son for being so weak. He also hit him with excessive force on the head and below the neck. Kendo masks cover the head neck, but below that is very vulnerable. Except for the kicking, I had witnessed similar aggressive coaching form two other coaches at this practice. To push a child to exhaustion and tears may be a part of his or her "training", but to kick him or her is definitely not part of the sport. It was at this moment that I knew I could not continue to attend this practice. Even though this sport has been my nemesis--it continues to be a struggle to understand and fit in--the coaches at this particular practice have been very good to me. They have adjusted their teaching to accommodate my lack of Japanese, encouraged me as I struggled in practice and helped me pass Kendo tests. It had been very difficult to just walk away from such people.

My last struggle came when I decided to inform the coaches of my reason for not coming to practice. I wrote a letter to the coaches expressing my feelings and had it translated into Japanese. Feeling relieved, I showed the letter to my Japanese "father". To my dismay, he told me that it was too "strong" of a letter, and that my coaches would only become upset upon reading it. So, he wrote a "softer" version in non-confrontational Japanese, but still advised me not to give it to the coaches. He sent me to discuss the best course of action with a man who introduced me to this Kendo practice--another father-like figure. This man decided that it was best to accompany me to practice to approach the head Kendo coach, his friend. Together we would explain the reason I had stopped going to his practice. Unfortunately, we cannot seem to coordinate our schedules. The "conference" has yet to happen, even after nine months!

Meanwhile, I had begun to attend a separate, "rival" practice. I enjoyed this practice, but it is not intense enough. I actually was missing the more serious one. I awaited the fateful meeting, trying hard to hold strong to my principles and beliefs. Nine months later, I find myself once again at the computer valiantly trying to edit and update this story. I have yet to see my kendo coach since I wrecked my knee skiing over winter holidays. But I feel that I should see the coaches to make them aware of the reason behind my prior absence from Kendo. At least I will show them the respect they deserve by making them aware of my true feelings. Where they go from there is up to them. Wish me luck.