Report #7: The Grade Skipping System

Today, we had a discussion about the introduction of the grade skipping system. There are 4 panel members; an elementary school student, a teacher, a Chinese man, Lee who experienced the grade skipping system, and the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The moderator gave a suggestion about the introduction of the grade skipping system for elementary and junior high schools in Japan.

First, the teacher took up the lack of communication. She worried about it due to the difference of their age. In fact, Lee did not have a best friend in his class. Then, one idea came up. That is giving students a test of communication skill like other subjects. But, Lee strongly disagreed with the idea because it made no sense. I really agree with Lee. I wonder how we can measure communication skills. I think it is cultivated through our daily lives.

When the discussion lost its heat, Jeff suggested an alternative idea that making a special class for talented students without shifting grade. Instead of introducing the grade skipping system, each of the schools will establish a special class for every grade. In the class, the students can study what they want to learn. I think this idea is better than the introduction of the system. However, I do not agree with it in several points. First, I wonder there are students who are talented enough to skip grade in the same grade. Next, there are too little teachers to teach them. Jeff said that the talented students do not always need learning from teachers, but they need their teacher in charge of the class. And also, it is difficult from an economic viewpoint.


I think there is much room for discussion.