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The end of March not only marks the end of the school year, but it is also the end of the fiscal year. And with this new year comes many sobetsukai’s (farewell parties…not to be confused with sAbetsukai, which would mean “discrimination party”). Public employees, including teachers, are subject to a nationwide shifting of personnel every April. Employees could potentially have a job shift from one end of the country to the other, but from what I can tell, most of it stays within the prefecture, if not the same subprefecture (applicable to Hokkaido, primarily). Even though administrators try to keep moves somewhat local, the employees aren’t actually informed of the move until a couple weeks before. The notifications all happen on the same day and are announced at the morning meetings. I missed the notifications at my schools, but apparently there are some vocal protests by colleagues (I’ll have to make it a point to see this next year). This seems like it would be particularly straining on employees with families, having to uproot every couple of years. Growing up in the military, we moved every three years, but there was certainty in the fact that we knew it was every three years. Here, I don’t think they know for sure what their lengths of stay will be. I’m sure that they’re accustomed to it, but I’m also sure that it probably isn’t that easy for them.
As far as teachers go, I have developed my own theory as to who stays and who goes. If you are a homeroom teacher with a class moving into its second or third year, you are probably staying. If you just moved the previous year, odds are that you probably won’t be moving again this year. Age and experience might give you a level of seniority as well. (I’ll have more to report once I figure out who moves from my high school) Otherwise…you’ll have to consider how to pack all your stuff. (Maybe that’s why Japanese people use futons! If they have to move frequently, futons are much more portable than actual beds. Much more efficient, eh?) None of my English teachers are changing at either of my schools, so the changes won’t affect me directly in the teaching capacity. However, my office at the board of education is switching around a bit. Two folks are retiring, so at least we knew about those way ahead of time, but the two that are retiring are the nicest of the bunch (which isn’t putting down the rest of the office, because really, I’ve got a pretty awesome crew of people). Thank goodness that they’re not moving away!
I’m curious to see how the dynamic of my schools and offices might change with the switch-arounds. There will be welcome parties to usher in the new faces and everyone will get to know each other thanks to the alcohol and karaoke. (By the way, my office is all ridiculously good at karaoke. They all belted out their Japanese power ballads with emotional flare while I did what I’m sure was a comical interpretation of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing”) I’ll keep you all posted.
PS: I found out recently that my office IS indeed changing…quite a bit. There are eight people in the office, including me, and three of them are changing…including my supervisor. Bummer! But luckily, no one is really moving away, just retiring or switching positions in the same town. But now, I’ve got to get used to a new supervisor…who happens to look a lot like a taller, more Japanese Jackie Chan.
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I think this is probably the motto of the elderly folk here in Japan. Held at a high level of respect, the elderly have the right of way in pretty much everything here. One thing in particular that I’ve noticed is how they LOVE to walk in the middle of the street. Even if there are sidewalks available, they seem to prefer the open road. Driving down the road, I find it quite comical…luckily. Otherwise, it’d have the potential to look like something out of Grand Theft Auto.
