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November 28 Immediate Action Needed to Combat School BullyingRecently school bullying has become a hot-button issue in Japan in desperate need of immediate action to stop an increasing amount of suicides by hopeless students. As a foreign teacher living in Japan, I believe I have a unique perspective on this situation, which inspired me to write the following condensed opinion - published in Japan's national English newspaper, The Daily Yomiuri. Teachers need to be given tools to discipline students With all due respect to writer Whahei Tatematus, who’s statements were recently published in the Daily Yomiuri entitled, (“Society must face up to bullying problem,” Page 3, Nov. 14), it’s my opinion we should not broaden the problem to society at a time where students are feeling most desperate and in need of our help now. As a foreign teacher living and teaching in Japan, I believe the lack of strong guidelines for disciplining students is the root cause for the increase in bullying in schools, which is resulting in suicides. Today’s public school students in Japan are free to behave in any inappropriate way they choose to without fear of serious repercussion from teachers. I am under the impression teachers are handcuffed by the power of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), which I believe needs to allow teachers to teach and discipline appropriately for the sake of their own children. In addition, the Education, Science and Technology Ministry needs to revisit any existing disciplinary guidelines and provide teachers the authority needed to effectively teach and protect students. If students are perceived to have more power than teachers, how do you think the student being bullied feels? Let me answer that, hopeless. Students must be held accountable for their inappropriate actions in school. I believe by implementing something as simple as detention would immediately reverse the current trend. Detentions are a common form of school discipline in the United States. When students break school rules they are detained after school for one hour regardless of prior commitments. By taking away students’ own time spent in after school activities, such as sports clubs or simply going home, then maybe students will be more tentative when teachers say that bullying will not be tolerated. November 05 Journey to Hiroshima to see the Dalai Lama (video)I just returned from seeing the Dalai Lama in Hiroshima and as promised I bring you pictures and videos of my journey! Seeing the Dalai Lama at a spiritual and beautiful site as the Daishoin Temple on Miyajima Island was unlike any other time I have seen him. In total, I have seen the Dalai Lama six times in my life - the first being in 1984 when I was a young child living near Seaside, Oregon. At that time, I was among two children randomly selected among a small Tibetan-Oregon community to be the first in Oregon to greet his Holiness as he exited a car to attend a speaking event at the Shilo Inn Hotel. This most recent event was as memorable I believe. Seeing the Dalai Lama speak in a small religious setting is no comparison to seeing him in an auditorium, this experience was truly unforgettable. An additional highlight of the day was listening to a Tibetan woman living in Japan sing. Speaking in both Japanese and Tibetan, Pema Yangchin charmed the crowd with her incredible voice and her passion to bridge the two countries. “I am a Tibetan first. Tibet is in my heart and I speak to you as a Tibetan daughter-in-law in Japan,” she said in fluent Japanese. According to Phayul.com, "Pema Yangchin sings and sells her self-composed albums in Japan to raise money for the schools she helped to build in Tibet, her homeland." At the end of my video, listen to her voice yourself as she sings for the Dalai Lama! Regarding the Dalai Lama Buddhist teachings and message, he said: “Buddhism is more than a religion. It is a science of the mind” He added, thorough understanding along with proper investigation of Buddhist teachings help in training the mind. In addition, he said lasting happiness cannot be attained without inner peace. “And inner peace is possible through mind training, without which happiness, howsoever great, is fleeting and superficial.” “Spirituality is more than just observing rituals and chanting of mantras routinely. It also requires understanding the teachings in-depth, discipline and practice.” When asked a question about depression, he responded in English that young Japanese should travel the world and help developing countries and the less fortunate. And by doing so, you will see the positives of your life and feel a sense of fulfillment. November 01 Dalai Lama Arrives in Hiroshima"His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived at Hiroshima airport Tuesday evening to give religious teachings and present a keynote address at the 2006 Hiroshima International Peace Summit beginning Wednesday. The Tibetan leader will be in Hiroshima for 8 days. The 2-day peace summit in Hiroshima will be followed by religious teachings at Daisyoin Temple, situated on the scenic Miyajima Island in Hiroshima prefecture. He will give Buddhist teachings and also lead a consecration ceremony of a Maitreya Buddha statue beginning Friday at Miyajima." (Phayul.com) Prior to his trip to Miyajima Island, "On 1 and 2 November His Holiness the Dalai Lama will participate in the Hiroshima International Peace Summit 2006 to be held at the site, which was devastated by an atom bomb in closing days of the World War II. Nobel laureates Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa and Betty Williams of Northern Ireland will join His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the two-day summit. The theme of the peace summit is 'think of our future with compassion and humanity'. His Holiness the Dalai Lama will also deliver the keynote address on universal responsibility at the peace symposium. From 4-9 November, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will give teachings and initiations. On 10 November His Holiness will leave for Tokyo where he will give a public talk. This visit of His Holiness is being organised by the Phakchen Monastery, one of the main and oldest Buddhist monastery in Hiroshima." (Tibet.net) Note: I'm leaving for Hiroshima tomorrow morning! Pictures and Video of my trip to follow! |
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