Police in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, have arrested a cram school operator on suspicion of inflicting bodily injury on a six-year-old boy.
Police said the suspect, Rei Tanaka, 49, runs Abilids, which is a cram school in Takatsu Ward to prep children for elementary school entrance exams.
According to the warrant, Tanaka allegedly held the boy upside down during a class on Aug 19, Sankei Shimbun reported 19. The boy suffered bleeding in his eyes that required a week to heal.
When the boy returned home, his family noticed his bloodshot eyes and asked him what happened. They then contacted police.
Police said Tanaka, who was arrested on Wednesday, has admitted to the charge and quoted him as saying, “I disciplined the boy because he wouldn't do as I told him. Such punishment is part of my teaching.” Police plan to investigate whether Tanaka has committed similar offenses against other students.
© Japan Today
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quercetum
Shitsuke is necessary but he went overboard. Make little Jack Horner sit in the corner.
shogun36
Good publicity there, Rei. Good luck getting new students. Or keeping current ones.
Do the hustle
“I disciplined the boy because he wouldn't do as I told him. Such punishment is part of my teaching.”
Somebody needs to explain to him the difference between discipline and child abuse.
a cram school in Takatsu Ward to prep children for elementary school entrance exams
There is something seriously wrong with this.
shogun36
I completely agree. What do they test? If they can color within the lines? If they can put food in their mouths with a spoon? If they can calculate algebra equations?
justasking
Calculus, Kanji, etc.
Sven Asai
Such punishment is NOT part of my teaching. Maybe, that’s why I have had not a single customer for the last 13 years. lol
Monozuki
Sounds like Tanaka did too much of a good thing. Hope the boy will get back on his feet soon.
DatAss
Cram schools represent the abject failure of the Japanese education system. They are an abhorrent imposition on childhood.
kurisupisu
Torturing a 6 year old is not really professional behavior is it...
NOMINATION
It is quite common nowadays actually because parents want their kids to go to prestigious junior high schools that accept 10% of applicants. I notice this especially among students who have parents in the medical profession.
Fighto!
I hope the scum who abused this little boy loses his business and is bankrupted. He must have traumatized so many kids over the years.
May the boy recover fully, he deserves a long break from juku.
Pukey2
Good grief! Do they also have cram schools for kindergarten entrance exams too? What next, cram schools to leave the uterus?
serendipitous1
How long did he hold the poor kid upside down for? Must have been quite a while if he had bloodshot eyes. What an idiot.....as if that's going to make the boy enjoy studying. Hopefully that's the end of his cram school business.
Bjorn Tomention
Yes these teachers are most definitely in a class of their own ain't they.
Teachers ...............................
gakinotsukai
No wonder why the japanese kids mental health is one of the worst amongst rich nations according to Unicef study (reported here on JT)
quercetum
Those of you who ask what do they test, they test nothing. It’s a front so they can have a meeting with the guardians / parents to inform them that their son is on the borderline with the results. Then the parents hand over the brown envelope. At least that’s what I heard about the famous private elementary school in Hiroo.
colenalperu
I guarantee that the punishment the owner receives will not prevent him continuing in education or working with children in future.
I’m terrified that one day my own child in school here in Japan becomes a victim, whether to bullying students or teachers.
uktokyo
A ballet teacher did similar to my daughter (thankfully not as serious) and gave similar excuse. I gave her a bollocking and we quit immediately.
Amazing the reaction of the Japanese mums I told the story too - ah, that’s what Japanese “teachers” do, it’s how they teach, we experienced that.. etc
Encourage kids - no. Motivate kids - no. Shout at them and abuse them - that’s the way to do it. They just don’t have a clue in Japan.
Takara
my son goes to public elementary school in April, so far no entrance exam necessary. I am guessing the boy will be going some fancy elementary school then.
Strangerland
Some universities in Japan have a feeder program from elementary/jr/high schools that they run. Kids that get into the elementary school automatically go on to the jr and sr high schools, then to the university. If your kid can get into the elite elementary school, it sets up their life. This is why some parents have their kids going to prep school for the elementary school entrance exam.
Strangerland
It's weird I'd get a downvote on that last post. I didn't express any opinion, just added some information the article didn't contain, so as to provide context for posters who understandably questioned why there would be cram school for elementary school entrance exams.
Strangerland
Hahae! Then -9 for that.
sir_bentley28
Wait.......WHAT! Well if this clown can do this to someone else's kid because he wouldn't do as he was told, I can imagine his wife or kids! What a buffoon!
blue in green
The day this farcity is exposed, is the day children can once again be children, and slimy
operators of cram schools, entrance exam manufacturers, and entry board committees, can get a real job that contributes to a healthy society.
The place where a child goes to school is not as important as how well they do
while attending. If that is not true, than a basic overhaul of the entire education system needs to happen. Constantly hearing about teen suicides, bullying and extreme pressure put on children,
and there is always the question, why? Right here. People like this dolt, acting as if he has the keys to the city, the right to abuse children, and parents who are too lazy or just complicit; let it all slide.
Make it end.
Make this system of "entrance" exams, end. Make school a place where children learn, make lasting friendships, and have less stress in their young lives worried about things they ought not to be concerned about. Make real learning a priority, not training to make trained seals. Take back dignity, take back self respect, and take back childrens right to be children.
Make it happen, Japan.
Jonathan Prin
When entering elementary school, I could barely write my name LOL. I did not know the alphabet LOL.
I went to public schools only and never had any juku lessons.
One will never become someone without personal effort. That is what I teach to my children and push for to learn about what they like most by guiding them, not threatening them.