We've only been here an hour or so, but I feel at home already; somehow I can tell I'm in a junior high. One bit of evidence is that the staff seem as nonconformist as at back home -- not only did I notice a couple male teachers who are wearing a business shirt colored something other than white, there were even a couple who weren't wearing ties (register mild shock now). Even their clocks are off -- it's the first Japanese school I've seen that doesn't have every clock precisely set.
All the schools have given us small meaningful gifts, but today's ranks highest by far: a really fine pair of chopsticks, along with a beautiful chopsticks resting stone made of the renowned local shodai pottery.
It's an ideally small school -- only about 230 students in all three grades combined (Japanese middle schools include grades 7, 8 & 9).
- They have a no-bell policy; the principal explained that since they are working to foster self-discipline amongst the students and staff, relying on bells would be an unnecessary reliance on external stimuli. Gotta say I'm a fan of getting rid of bells. (Note: I don't think many schools in Japan have this no-bell policy -- it's a noteworthy example of individualism in this hyper-standardized society.)
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