Feb 1996″A lot of children crack up under the pressure and there are a lot of negative things that happen like bullying. “The Hiranos’ son committed suicide after he was bullied at a new school. The school authorities made no comment. Satoru Ikeda, teacher, thinks that many students have lost their identity because of a harsh education system in Japan which does not tolerate individuality. Rosalind Brown, English teacher, was shocked by the sight of young children wearing only a pair of shorts. Even in cold weather the children stand in the playground in rows and rub each other’s back to keep warm. If children walk around from February to November with a bare belly they win a certificate. Inside the class room they stand and recite English phrases in unison. To get into a better high school and a good university, children also attend evening classes. They enjoy themselves afterwards by going to McDonalds for a coke and doing their homework together. Noriko Nagasaki opposes the education system and says that most parents are afraid to protest in case it affects their children’s’ exam results.
