20 March 2005
Last Updated: 22/03/05
I was very privileged to be able to attend Showa preschool's graduation ceremony. Tom teaches at this school every week, and I was very intrigued to find out what a preschool graduation would be like. To me the idea of graduating from anywhere other than university (or maybe college) seems very strange, although having attended two Haruko graduations I'm coming round to the idea of kids graduating from high school. But to go to the trouble to have an hour-long ceremony for 5 and 6 year olds....?!
As it was, the event was lovely - really moving (even though I don't even know the kids). The children were so well behaved, too. It made me remember all the stories I'd been told before I left home about how well-disciplined Japanese students are. I wonder what happens between preschool and high school...! (This graduation was so different - so much more formal, touching and serious - than the Haruko ceremony.)
One
thing I did find slightly disturbing. The crying. Not so much from
the kids, but from the teachers...and fathers!!!
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The littlies bid a fond farewell to the graduating classes (these kids are 3 - 5 years old) |
Two teachers, some graduating kids, and a few proud fathers with video cameras
(yes, I know it's a crap photo - I was honoured to be given a place with the staff, but it meant I wasn't in a good position to take pics...!) |
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One of the little boys collects his graduation certificate from the principal |