12-yr-old girl in critical condition after falling out 3rd-floor window

Jesus, the 12year old girl hated school so much she tried to off herself?? I think we need to take a long hard look at the education system if it sucks that much.

Kids should not be preassured into school work, they wont learn anything from it anyway. We need to do away with this conformity culture and be creative.

Oh, my heart goes out to kids. It's mental torture of a sort, the pressure put on them about petty stuff.

I have seen teachers be so angry when a student is late with work, or has made some mistake, and then after the kid has left the room weeping (usually the teacher rants on at them deliberately, just to make them cry), the teachers have a good laugh about it - I wasn't really angry, they express with their giggles.

We really should let kids into the secret - in a few years, months, even days, it won't matter a jot - it's irrelevant. Don't sweat it, it's ok to be late, we're all disorganized and overloaded with To-Dos.

Poor little girl.

When I was 12 years old the worst thing I had to worry about when going back to school after summer was if I was going to be in the same class as my friends.

Gone are the days when summers where spent to just playing, going to the beach, to the movies and bonding with siblings...where I came from, we were not given any home works to have to worry about..and looked forward to the start of school and catch up with friends and classmates.

Gees! High school is supposed to be the best time of your life. What are they doing to these kids to make them want to kill themselves instead of facing school?

Summer assignments? Isn't the whole point of summer vacation to relax and get a break from school work?

Kind of redefines 'summer break' when you have so many assignments to do. Yet another reason why Japan should take on the Western system of starting the school year in September, and summer being an actual 'vacation' and not a time to prepare for sports day or do homework.

Poor kid. I hope she survives to realize just how silly the pressures she feels really are, and can live a productive and healthy life.

About 34% of Japanese elementary school children believe that "dead people come back to life", according to an article in Yomiuri Online back in 2006.

This is pathetic! How can children become so despondent?? It is very, very sad, and I hope this family, this school and oops, that community reflect on their conduct ASAP! Kyushu is infamous more having super strict teachers, beating and slapping the students used to be common, my guess, it may still be going on and this poor thing just dreaded going to her school.

"Fell"? Rather misleading. Call it what it is - the girl jumped.

Summer homework.... I refused to give it when I taught. The really sad thing is that most teachers don't even correct it. They look at it to see if it has been done with zero regards to it being done correctly. Mom should have gotten off her butt and either a) helped her daughter with it b) given her child a time schedule to make sure she was getting it done or c) complained to the school that it was too much to do. My MIL complained to my husband's school and he didn't have to do half of it. If more parents actually spoke up, this crap would be done away with. There is ZERO point to it but as usual, "We've always done it this way" is the excuse given when questioned about it.

I thought writing a book report sucked.

My eight year old got tonnes of homework this summer. It's not surprising that perhaps this poor girl got stressed out and couldnt face going back to school.

Yep, Japanese education definitely needs an overhaul. But don't worry though, Hashimoto has got that all covered by forcing the kids to stand up and sing the national anthem...

Tmarie, you have a very, very good point! Too much homework for summer and winter vacation SUCK!!

I live in Okinawa where the weather has not been nearly as hot as in mainland Japan and I hardly saw any children outside the whole summer. Many of them used to stop by and visit me (I'm an English teacher here) but hardly anyone ever came. When I did run into them (say, at the mall or something) I would ask them "how's your summer vacation?" and they would reply..."too much homework!". The answers were consistent with the few kids I did see. Sad...really sad. No fun for these kids! Too much pressure. I sure hope that young girl will over come her injuries.

CrazyJoe, wow, interesting input. No wonder then. A 14Y girl just jumped off an undisclosed height in our apartment complex Sunday morning a week ago. It was exam day, my wife found out about it when 30 officers were questioning all 90 units for any hints.

The students should be encouraged to have trust in the schools and in the teachers

Very sad indeed. When I was 12 I was working in the fields and couldn't wait to get back to school when the summer was over.

About 34% of Japanese elementary school children believe that "dead people come back to life", according to an article in Yomiuri Online back in 2006.

I suspect that figure's probably about right for elementary school kids all over the world. And most of them will be Year 1 and Year 2 students.

all work and no play, ever. The sad thing is that this isn't even rare

There's a lot of pressure for people here, and as soon as you criticize long working hours and the hours that kids spend at school, clubs, then cram school, people defend it...even though nobody likes it.

We hear a lot in the news about bullying, and I think this outdated education system is the biggest bully of all.

Sad, that it came to this.

As for summer homework. I gave no summer homework to most of my students - I told them to enjoy their summer.

A small amount of homework is a good idea because otherwise kids forget a lot of stuff they learned. My kid got around to it the last week of vacation and seemed to get it done in about 5 hours.

I BLAME THE PARENTS !!!! The child & parent have to have good communication. NOW if the kid didn't know what to do, the kid should ask the parent for advice or SUPPORT.

If you have a kid that is studying and no FAMILY support. The kid will go crazy and jump over the edge.

When I was a kid I wish my parents sent me to a juku for help. Some juku schools are very helpful to kids.

Some are not !!!!!!!

I was in a "part ELT program " & the English program sucks & boring , I was given a free hand in doing some stuff but I got into trouble with one of the senior teachers , so why bother I said if you ick them join em'thingy but my principle & belief that I am not doing the right thing , they are not learning at all .. So I quit . I think the system dictates everything , everything should be the uniform , the shoes , the bags , etc, & maybe the way you style your hair . I am stubborn & if I can't get my way & I feel that experimenting in style of teaching is the best way to learn .. I am authority cuz I was at the top of my class & I know what I am preaching lol !!! well, which is better we can never tell , maybe it's not only the school but parents are to be blame .. Why can't you stop your child from committing suicide ???? There's really a big problem with this family ...

For what its worth, the summer break in Japan is not the same as the summer break in the US/UK and many other countries. In those countries the summer break is between school years, so it makes sense that kids don't have ay homework. At my (British) school we certainly did have homework in the other breaks, including Christmas/winter. I'm guessing Japanese school kids don't get homework during the spring holiday, which marks the turn of the academic year. (Not commenting on whether kids are under too much pressure in general, or whether this particular girl should or shouldn't have had homework)

I think the parents need to step up and complain. The thing is, I think this homework is given more as buys work than anything. Moms won't complain about it because it keeps Junior out of her hair and keeps him busy. Rather than spend time with their kids and go on outings, parents look the other way and claim the mantra of "I had to do it to". What they are forgetting is that they didn't do near as much as the kids these days. Until the parents step up and do their job, this won't change.

I also know of parents who complain their kids didn't get enough homework and mom has to deal with them. Pathetic. For a country that goes on about SAHM and how busy they are, they seem to be lacking in the parenting common sense. Help your kids, damn it. Stop expecting the teachers and schools to do your job.

Summer homework. A small amount of homework is fine, but.......the amount my kids had to do was just too much. The kids will out of the nature of kids just not do their homework They would rather be out playing. I had to encourage, cudgole, bribe and try just about anything to get them to do a little each day short of doing it myself for them. And as always the last few days before returning to school was hell!! shouting, arguing, tears...doors slamming all over homework....pointless needless stress and anxiety for everyone. I spoke with other Japanese parents who admitted that their house was in the same situation on the last few days. Next year we are off back home for a month, I am going to ask the school for no homework....travel education is far more valuable.

So sad and sorry for the girl who was obviously too terrified to return to school because of unfinished homework...just pointless needless stress and anxiety.

Roger, why not complain now about it instead of waiting next year? Also, why does the house have to be like that if your child doesn't want to do their homework? Don't do it after being asked? They can suffer the punishment from the school. You shouldn't be bribing your kids to do what is asked. If you didn't speak to the school about the amount of work, you are signalling that you agree with the amount and support the school. If you don't, speak up - and get the other parents to speak up as well. Nothing will change unless parents voice their complaints.