I would like to put my insight into the Japanese public education system based on my firsthand experience as a public elementary school teacher in Japan since July 2022.

In many schools today in Japan, there’s a noticeable shift towards praising schoolchildren to facilitate their growth, rather than scolding them. This approach, often dubbed “praising education,” isn’t inherently flawed. Praising Education involves positively reinforcing kids, which can nurture and uplift them.

When schoolchildren show good behavior in their schoolwork and activities, they’re rewarded with praise, which seems to bolster positive actions. However, on the flip side, negative behavior tends to be overlooked, almost as if it never occurred. This poses an issue where misconduct goes unaddressed, missing valuable opportunities for timely correction and education. Consequently, schoolchildren may not learn the crucial skills of problem-solving and conflict resolution. These are responsibilities that educators, parents, and educational institutions should address with sharing information. Essentially, educators should teach students what they can and cannot do.

As a result, schools overlook significant opportunities to teach their students vital skills such as navigating challenges, problem-solving, and developing resilience. This encompasses what is commonly referred to as “critical thinking,” which I personally translate to Japanese as “生きる力.”

What would you think about this?