VOX POPULI: Should more schools stop handing out report cards?
A homeroom teacher hands out report cards at the end of the closing ceremony for an elementary school's second term in Osaka's Sumiyoshi Ward in 2022. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
If schools decided to do away with report cards, what would be the reactions of the following manga characters, all of whom are elementary school students?
I'm pretty sure Katsuo Isono from "Sazae-san" would be overjoyed.
How about Nobita Nobi? He'd probably be indifferent since he's quite easy-going by nature anyway, not to mention that his best pal Doraemon always has his back.
In contrast, Chibi Maruko-chan may well receive the news with suspicion and her characteristically cynical frown.
The municipal board of education of Mino, Gifu Prefecture, announced on May 2 that there will be no more report cards for first- and second-year students at the city's elementary schools.
Reportedly, this decision was made in response to the 'request' from some quarters that younger schoolkids be 'allowed to grow up more freely.'
The board also explained that instead of giving out report cards, the schools will hold in-person meetings with the children's parents or guardians to let them know how the youngsters are doing in class.
There are pros and cons to this approach, of course. At an elementary school in Kanagawa Prefecture that decided to eliminate report cards five years ago, one concern that was said to have been voiced was, '(Without report cards), we can't tell how our kids are performing.'
There is competition everywhere in society. There apparently are parents—and also schoolchildren themselves—who want to know where they rank in their classes, even though they don't necessarily feel the need to be evaluated on an 'absolute scale.'
Kazuya Kokubu, who was the principal of the Kanagawa school at the time, explained the reason for doing away with report cards: 'Report cards rank children in order.'
He questioned its appropriateness in public education, and thought that eliminating report cards would free up time for teachers, so they could spend more time with their students.
The evaluator is human, and so, too, is the evaluated. It's wonderful to be a fast runner, or know more kanji than anyone else or be a good singer. But each such forte is only one aspect of the person who is being evaluated.
A society where one is judged by just one yardstick—whether one can or cannot—is hardly a comfortable place to be in.
Recalling my own childhood, I know I wasn't like Katsuo, but I have no recollection whatsoever of how I dealt with report cards.
In the one scene I remember vividly, I am being taken to task thoroughly by my class master for misbehaving.
For some strange reason, this has remained a precious memory, and I still keep it in my 'pocket of memories.'
—The Asahi Shimbun, May 13
* * *
Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Asahi Shimbun
3 days ago
- Asahi Shimbun
EDITORIAL: Social agreement needed for disposing of Fukushima soil
The interim storage facility in Okuma, Fukushima Prefecture, for soil collected in the decontamination work around the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in the background (Asahi Shimbun file photo) The government has decided on a basic policy direction for the huge volume of contaminated soil resulting from the 2011 triple meltdown at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant of Tokyo Electric Power Co. The two main measures are to recycle some of it and to eventually dispose of all the soil outside of Fukushima Prefecture. However, no course for those measures has been laid down because of difficulties in finding a location to serve as a final disposal site. This is a grave issue that society as a whole must squarely face. Soil removed during decontamination work within Fukushima Prefecture has been accumulating at an interim storage facility near the nuclear plant so as not to interfere with reconstruction efforts in the prefecture. The equivalent volume of 11 Tokyo Domes has been collected. In order to obtain local understanding, the government has proposed moving that soil outside of Fukushima for final disposal by 2045. The Fukushima governor accepted that proposal, but said it was an 'agonizing decision.' Many blocs in the Diet supported a legal revision that clearly stated it was the central government's responsibility to dispose of the soil outside of Fukushima. There is major significance to the promise made to disaster-stricken areas that were forced to shoulder serious environmental pollution and the bitterness of losing one's hometown. Because there were doubts about whether that goal could be realized, it is also a fact that politicians made a decision before thorough discussion was conducted. With only 20 years before the deadline for final disposal, the most pressing issue will be recycling the soil so the volume for final disposal is reduced. The plan is to use about three-fourths of the total volume with radiation concentration levels under 8,000 becquerels per kilogram of soil in public works projects in various parts of Japan. In the recently decided basic policy, one measure included was using the soil in shrubbery planted within the grounds of the prime minister's office as a sign the central government was taking the lead in the matter. To ensure sufficient safety, the government has said the radiation exposure of workers handling the soil would be kept under international standards and that measures would be taken to prevent the soil from becoming airborne or spilling out from the work site. But understanding will not deepen if only scientific safety is emphasized. The Environment Ministry's plan for experimental use of the soil in the Tokyo metropolitan area never got off the ground because of opposition from local residents. When the government recently sought out views about the recycling soil standard, many concerns and doubts were submitted. There was a sharp difference of opinion regarding the radiation risk from the nuclear plant accident in relation to farm products and the release of treated water into the ocean. Rather than imposing its views, the government has the responsibility of making every effort to achieve social agreement by removing concerns through civil dialogue with local governments and citizens. Now is also the time to enter into serious discussions about final disposal that will come after recycling. There are many issues to discuss, such as the cost and burden, including recycling of the soil, and what plans the government has for the areas around the nuclear plant once final disposal is completed. The handling of the removed soil is an especially difficult matter for the processing of the nuclear accident. According to an Environment Ministry study, only one in four respondents outside of Fukushima Prefecture know about the policy of final disposal outside of that prefecture. That is much lower than the slightly more than half of the Fukushima Prefecture respondents who are aware of that policy. The accident of 14 years ago occurred while Japanese society continued to use nuclear power under a 'safety myth.' The electricity generated at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant was mainly used in the Tokyo metropolitan area. There is a need for deep and careful consideration about how to achieve a resolution to the issue by having the entire nation tackle the task of dealing with the aftereffects. --The Asahi Shimbun, June 4
Asahi Shimbun
3 days ago
- Asahi Shimbun
VOX POPULI: Giants' legend Nagashima sparkled on the field and in life
As a superstar for the Yomiuri Giants, Shigeo Nagashima captivated fans with his dynamic swing. (Asahi Shimbun file photo) You sometimes hear people say they 'dislike the Giants,' but I've never met anyone who said they 'dislike Nagashima.' A man universally loved—a truly fortunate figure. On the morning of Oct. 14, 1974, when Shigeo Nagashima, the iconic Japanese baseball legend and star of the Yomiuri Giants was set to announce his retirement, The Asahi Shimbun's signature daily column Vox Populi, Vox Dei began with those words, penned with deep respect. Half a century later, that impression remains unchanged. Upon hearing the news of his passing on June 3, I once again feel compelled to echo those words with heartfelt reverence. More than anything, it was his radiance, his irrepressible cheer, which captivated the nation. Surely, this is what we mean when we speak of a true star. The news of Nagashima's passing brings to mind a childhood scene once shared across the nation: a summer evening, watching a baseball broadcast unfold like a ritual. Sitting on the 'engawa' traditional wooden veranda with family and neighbors gathered close, we stared intently at the tiny black-and-white TV screen. 'Batting fourth, third baseman, Nagashima.' The uniquely composed, measured voice of a devoted female announcer for the Giants' home stadium made this call unmistakable. When she intoned Nagashima's name, the air crackled with energy. A ripple of excitement would surge through the room and a collective cry would rise, as if shaken loose by memory or myth. In that moment, we knew: the drama was about to begin. From striking out in all four at-bats in his debut game to a lifetime of larger-than-life episodes, his career was never short on drama. Undaunted by setbacks, he faced every challenge with fearless determination. His final years, marked by illness, were no exception. How many found strength in the sight of 'Mister'—a nickname born from 'Mr. Giants' and 'Mr. Pro Baseball' in testament to his standing as the face of both the team and the sport—pressing on with unwavering spirit? During Japan's period of rapid economic growth in the Showa Era (1926–1989), daily life was far from uniformly bright or joyful. In fact, it may have been precisely the depth of those societal shadows that made Nagashima's light shine all the more brilliantly. He once famously quipped, 'Shippai wa seiko no maza' (failure is the mother of success), humorously substituting the English word 'mother' for the Japanese 'haha.' Another memorable line came on his 60th birthday, a traditional milestone in Japan known as 'kanreki': 'I've reached my first kanreki,' he said with a grin. With these delightfully whimsical turns of a phrase, he had a rare gift for bringing smiles to all who listened. Now, a symbolic figure of an era when many gritted their teeth and clung to hope for tomorrow has set off on a distant journey. —The Asahi Shimbun, June 4 * * * Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.
Asahi Shimbun
31-05-2025
- Asahi Shimbun
VOX POPULI: Dazzled by the enigmatic smile of an ancient sculpture
'Nyoirin Kannon,' or statue of Seated Bodhisattva with One Leg Pendent, from Chuguji temple on display at Nara National Museum in Nara on May 20 (Asahi Shimbun file photo) Wanting to see a particular enigmatic smile in person, I traveled to the ancient Japanese capital of Nara. My destination was the Nara National Museum, where the celebrated Asuka Period (592-710) 'Nyoirin Kannon,' or statue of Seated Bodhisattva with One Leg Pendent, was on display in a special feature exhibition titled 'Oh! Kokuho: Resplendent Treasures of Devotion and Heritage.' The statue went on display on May 20 when some of the exhibits were replaced. To see the famed smile, one had to first complete a tour of the exhibition and see all the national treasures the museum had to offer. Only then, could a visitor be led into a dazzling white room that made one feel as if they were stepping into an alternate universe. There, in the center, materialized the 'kannon bosatsu'--or the goddess of mercy in Japanese Buddhism. The plump middle finger of her right hand touched her chin. Her left foot was on a lotus flower. With her eyes lowered serenely, she seemed to be contemplating the salvation of humanity. I had been told before that her face changed noticeably depending on the angle of view. That proved to be true. Up close, she looked infinitely gentle. Scrutinized from afar, she gave the impression of being determined or intense. This sculpture is made of wood, but its ebony sheen could have misled anyone into thinking it was metal. Everything about this treasure simply mesmerized me. In fact, many people have been captivated by this Japanese version of 'The Thinker.' Philosopher Tetsuro Watsuji (1889-1960) extolled it as 'the crystallization, in the shape of a human body, of our deepest and commonest yearning for mercy.' Photographer Ken Domon (1909-1990) put it much more simply: 'This is Japan's Madonna.' Domon deemed this bosatsu as a woman, probably because it was the main object of worship at Chuguji temple, a nunnery in Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture. Originally, the statue was said to have been painted in bright colors and had a pectoral ornament. I learned this only after I left the museum, but that certainly did not detract from my appreciation for this treasure in any way. A tanka poem by Yaichi Aizu (1881-1956) goes: 'Looking up a Buddha statue/ lost in a reverie/ then I heard the footsteps/ on the museum floor' I was so immersed in the experience that I must have forgotten the time. When I 'came to,' so to speak, there were far more visitors around me than when I started. I left the small white room with reluctance. --The Asahi Shimbun, May 31 * * * Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.
