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Eaton, Harrow, Rugby School Explorations
In late November last year, we visited Eton College, Harrow School, and Rugby School in England, which are the world's best integrated junior and senior high schools in both name and reality. This time, we would like to report on our visit.
Mr. Sohei Takatsuki of the Eaton College Japan Office took us to the school, and we were able to step into a valuable space inside the school that we normally would not be able to enter.
In the United Kingdom, education in Public Schools (boarding schools such as Eton Harrow) is considered more important than in universities (OX-Bridge).
Seeing the centuries-old buildings up close and speaking with teachers and students in person, I think I understand why these schools are more important than university education.
Eaton College was founded in 1440 and Harrow School in 1572. It goes without saying that the history of these schools itself helps to nurture humanity. I would like to talk about the purpose of education and my honest impression of what it is like to be a public school in the U.K., a place that continues to produce excellent human resources not only in the U.K. but also throughout the world.
Eaton, Harrow desks and chairs.
● Hallow.
Eaton
These photos are of chairs and desks that have been around since Eaton Hallow was founded. They are covered in graffiti and scratches, but you don't have to be an educator to understand how much it means to preserve this history and learn here.
The scars left by Winston Churchill and other British prime ministers and celebrities will appeal to the students who study there more than words and explanations. It was the location where Harry Potter was filmed.
● Hallow.
Eaton
Pictured above with current and former Eaton Hallow students,Objects inscribed with those who died in wars and accidents.It is. It is written on the walls of the hallways surrounding the church and the school's central garden.
All students who were enrolled in the school and who have died are listed. The monument shows how much the British public schools, including Eaton Harrow, respect the individual and how much they care about their students. If the students see this kind of thoughtfulness, they will try their best to learn and contribute to the honor of the school.
speech room
● Hallow.
● Rugby
The photo above shows the speech room. Every week, the Headmaster (Principal) gives a speech to the students,Alumni and other great figures in this field come to give speeches and influence current students.
Since he is an alumnus of Eaton Harrow, that is why he is an unusual alumnus, and that is why he will tell you stories that you would not normally hear.Nothing resonates more with middle and high school age students than the words of former presidents, presidents of major global companies, movie actors, artists, and others who have taught them. What better way to educate students than through the words of these men and women.
Cafeteria in rugby school dormitory
This photo shows the dorm dining hall. Eaton has 25 dormitories, with 50 middle and high school students (ages 13-18) living in each dormitory.This communal living is one key value of the British Publique School.
They eat and sleep together for five or six years and celebrate the rigors of school life together.
By the way, the dormitory director is in each building and takes care of the students from the time they wake up in the morning until they go to bed. At Eaton, the school's teachers also live in a large compound and live together.
An Eton teacher I know told me that he works with his students from the time they wake up in the morning until they go to bed. He said there are almost no weekends except during school holidays. Of course, the Head Master (principal) also lives on campus. The determination to face the students is so different!
● Rugby scholarship winners
The photos above are names and photos of students who received a scalar.Japanese NameI can see a glimpse of the
The United Kingdom awards and honors students who excel. Although the amount is not so large, awards are given in areas other than study, such as sports, art, and music.
I often saw where the teacher and student were teaching one-on-one, and it was the student whose talents jumped out above the rest.
From a Japanese perspective, we tend to see it as being called out as a punishment for doing something wrong. They often ask me if students who don't get the award don't feel any shame, and that is the good thing about the boarding system,There is a culture in the dorms where they take it for granted that they will win awards because they see their friends making the effort.
Public school education
In public schools in England, the maximum number of students per class is about 20. Within that class, there are three levels, upper, middle, and lower, depending on the level of the students.
If you have the ability to go further, as we have already discussedThey can set up a class for one person.In other words, the In other wordsThe teachers consider it their mission to discover and develop the individuality of their students.It is a
Also, public schools are rather strict in study, sports, and discipline than in Japan, but not as strict as a general order,Rigor in the face of the individualThe teacher is a good conversationalist and the students often go to the teacher for advice. The teacher talks with the students and the students often go to the teacher for advice. The relationship continues for five to six years, so the trust between the teachers and students is deepened.
Finally, I have a question for all of you,What do you think is the purpose of education?Is it an entrance exam? Is it social development?
In the British public school, it is an untitled"Education of the whole person."It is.To develop human qualities and abilities.It is.
Takatsuki-sensei told me that the purpose of this was that in those days, once war broke out, it was to go out to the battlefield and lead the troops at the head of the line. So even now, the purpose of learning"Developing Responsible Citizens."It is a way to The development of human resources who fulfill their duties and roles as citizens to society. That is why in the UK, on the other hand, there is a strong assertion of one's own rights.
It is true that public school tuition is not only expensive, it is very expensive. However, the buildings, desks, and chairs that have existed for hundreds of years, and just being able to put yourself in themThe educational value is PRICELESS to me.It can be said.
The time, history, and traditions that money cannot buy, the stories of growth between teachers and students that have remained unchanged for hundreds of years, the humanity and relationships spun out of that humanity, and the lifelong friends and mentors. I have no doubt that these things are not available anywhere else in the world.
Unfortunately, there are few traces of the old Japanese junior high school system, which was modeled after the public school system in England during the Meiji Restoration.
Kaiyo Gakuen in Aichi Prefecture was also started by Toyota Motor Corporation and others to create an Eton school in Japan, but the internal situation is not quite the same as the Eton school.
An anecdote about Eton School is that in 1991, when the A-Level scores were published in a magazine (like the Daily Telegraph's league table), Eton School received the TOP score, and three parents sent a letter to the school at the same time after learning this information. They sent a letter to the school at the same time.
The content of the letter was that if Eton ranked so high, then they were neglecting other important aspects of education at Eton.
Clearly, you are looking for educational values that are different from those of modern Japan.
illegitimate child (e.g. of one's servant)
Thirty years have passed since then. I spoke to a teacher at Eaton this time and asked her what is the hardest thing for her right now? He answered that the longer working hours and the elimination of weekends are good, but the biggest challenge is responding to inquiries from parents. It seems that the situation is changing little by little due to the changing times, even for Eton schools.
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P.S.
If you are accepted to boarding schoolGLI Online English Conversationis recommended.