Made the Cut

March 26th, 2007
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So, I made this year’s cut. I’m not actually all that suprised, because it is rare for a JET who wants to recontract to be denied – although I’m sure that it has happened a few times and will continue to happen once in a blue moon. Anyway, by going to Korea, I missed a couple of big announcements. Therefore, I came back to the office this morning to find that things have changed a bit. I noticed that on my desk there was a letter of initial confirmation, which basically states that I may continue this job for another year provided that nothing changes anytime soon. (I assume they mean injury, or some other incapacitation that would royally screw up my ability to teach.) The letter was signed by the head of the prefectural board of education (or at least a stamp that resembles his Western-style signature). After reading this, my thoughts drifted back to what I had missed. I suddenly recalled that there was an announcement about teachers being told who was staying at Hakata and who was leaving while I was in Korea. There was a nomikai for them before the announcement (while it was still anonymous) and then another nomikai after the announcement (with everyone’s future fully known). I remember thinking that it would have been incredibly awkward to be at the first nomikai. Anyway, I was expecting 2 people or so to be transferred out to other schools. I moved over to my supervisor’s desk and asked. She listed 7 people or so! Some of them were my good friends! Both of the people who made initial contact with me are leaving. (Yamamoto kyoto-sensei [vice principal] and Iio-sensei came to get me from Matsuyama airport when I first arrived.) Half of the people I hang out with during cleaning time and free time are leaving too. It’s rough. I hope they bring in some really good folks to replace them. I also wish them all the best in their transfers. I tell you what, you leave the school for a week, and look what happens. Does anyone know why Japan shuffles its teachers around so much? Must feel strange to go through the cycle every few years. And it must strain personal relations. I heard someone once make the claim that young teachers are sent to the islands or other rural areas for three years or so – but it seems that they can be of any age. Can anyone enlighten me?

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  • I just got back from lunch with a few of the guys, and we talked about it. They said that they all fill out a survey, and that they can request certain types of placement, but that ultimately it is up to the bureaucrats in the offices far, far away. They said it is common for people to be at a given school for anywhere from 3 to 10 years, but 2 of the NINE (yes, 9, I attended the ceremony today and recounted) people on their way out of Hakata HS were here for a whopping 1 year. What the heck? Seems to operate on a lottery system or something. Who knows? Anyway, they all feel like their heads are on the block. Not a fun way to go about work. Seniority plays into it? That is interesting. Maybe my school just looks different this time around because of the dissolving branch schools. I dunno. Wackiness.

    That 5 years of teaching rule that you mention might explain why one of my teachers went to work as a secretary at the Towel Museum for no apparent reason within 2 months of my arrival. I always thought that was weird. I mean, seriously.

    Thanks for the comment, Chuck. Haven't seen you around too much lately, though I can't blame you. Gotta post more interesting things, I guess. ;-)
  • I asked someone about this too. I forget who but according to him it has to do with seniority which makes sense. The teachers who have been teachers for a long time tend to get more say over where they go, or at least they did - but if this was entirely the case, well then, places like Matsuyama, and whatever other big cities would just be overrun with old people. Really. Completely populated by the geriatric crew. Old people don't want to be living in the boonies either it seems... if given the option. Hence they do this whole big shuffle thing.

    Also, did you know that during the first like 5 years of teaching or something every teacher has to go try another job for a bit? I completely didn't understand this at first, but apparently they all have to go work somewhere else - whether it be at a restaurant, an old person's home, a goat farm etc. etc. just for a bit. Quaint.


    Glad you made it back safe and sound!
  • It's not only in education that this sort of practice is applied. In most companies, all of the employees are shuffled around to different branches every two or three years. They have these big going away parties, and then big welcome parties, and life goes on. My theory is that everyone wants to work in Tokyo, and no one wants to work out in the boonies, so companies shuffle them around to maintain a certain level of job satisfaction. (Although moving is a pain in the ass and it seems so counterproductive.)

    In Japanese they have the term 単身赴任, which is when a husband works away from the family in another city. This is really common in Japan because of the rotation system in the companies. It's hard to get children into new schools, so they have no choice but to stay where they are.

    I always wondered who pays for the extra apartment, though.
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