Japanese Teachers Visit Norman Public Schools

By Tony Pennington

The Norman Transcript

In the early 1870s the first American baseball game was played in Japan opening the floodgate of many cultural exchanges for more than a century. From consumer electronics and music to compact cars, each society has been influenced by the other in profound and important ways. But beyond sporting events and Walkmans, the most important exchange just might be education.

Now in its 12th year, the Hitachi Computer Products’ Teacher Exchange Program has been introducing American and Japanese educators to the teaching environments of each country. Each year a group of Norman Public Schools teachers or administrator visit Odawara City, Japan and tour classrooms. Over the years, Norman delegations have been treated to music, art work and alternative teaching methods. And, like the schools of Odawara City, Norman has welcomed their Japanese counterparts. And with the recent arrival of three Japanese educators, Norman teachers and students once again showed their Sooner hospitality. “We have been very impressed with your schools and facilities,” said Odawara City Higashitomizu Elementary School teacher Satsuki Mochizuki at a reception Monday. Mochizuki and Chiyo Junior High School Social Studies teacher Masayuki Mitsuhashi and Odawara Machida Elementary School head teacher Sigekazu Kato arrived in Oklahoma Saturday and have spent their time sightseeing and in various classrooms in Norman.

For Mitsuhashi the trip was even more special as one of his former students now is a Longfellow Middle School eighth-grader.“ It was a surprise,” he said through an interpreter. “She tried hard. She was a good student.”

Mitsuhashi was able to have a brief reunion with Kyoka Akaishi, 13, Tuesday when Longfellow hosted the group. He gave Akaishi letters from her friends in Japan, and she gave him American snack food to take home.

Chance encounters aside the Japanese teachers were very specific with what they would like to take away from the experience: technology’s place in the classroom, teaching styles and methods and how to motivate children to increase learning.“

As we observed the classrooms in Norman we noticed how dedicated the teachers are and motivated the children are, and their attitude toward learning,” Mochizuki said. “ It is the same, children are children.”

And during his brief address at the reception, NPS Superintendent Dr. Joseph Siano expressed the same sentiment.“

Regardless of cultural differences … children issues provide common ground for all of us,” he said.

If you have any question please contact Tony Pennington at (405) 366-3541 or schools@normantranscript.com