Why Some Schools Are Eliminating Summer Homework

Aug 03, 2024 | News On Japan

TOKYO - Summer homework, a hallmark of Japanese elementary school education, is undergoing significant changes. What are the latest trends in summer homework?

Starting in 2023, Nishishinjuku Elementary School in Shinjuku Ward eliminated summer homework entirely. According to the school principal, "Although there haven't been any dramatic changes yet, some students have taken the initiative to study independently or found interests outside of academics."

In 2023, parents expressed concerns about their children spending too much time playing video games, but by 2024, those worries had completely dissipated. The principal also noted a slight increase in children's self-motivation.

Obstetrician Miho So: Summer homework can be beneficial for students who need to review their studies, but a lot of elementary school assignments heavily rely on parental involvement...

Yamauchi: Indeed, parents often find themselves taking on a significant role in their children's summer homework, particularly for younger students.

This means that the more homework assigned, the more challenging it becomes for parents. Consequently, there is a nationwide trend toward reducing homework, which also helps to lessen the burden on families.

Educational advisor Akihiro Shimizu explained, "With more dual-income households, the approach to homework is being reconsidered," confirming the nationwide trend of decreasing summer assignments.

Obstetrician So: Many summer homework tasks require parental assistance. Projects like "free research" often need significant help, as schools do not provide detailed instructions on science or research methods, leaving parents to manage the entire process.

Yamauchi: Children share similar feelings of burden as their parents.

In a survey conducted by Benesse Corporation, elementary students revealed the most challenging summer homework tasks: 1. Free Research/Art Projects: 40%

2. Book Reports: 39%

3. Diaries/Art Journals: 30%

Yamauchi: The variety of assignments is gradually changing.

Traditional tasks like "morning glory observations," once recorded as notebook sketches, now involve creating time-lapse videos. "Art projects" have evolved from handmade paper-mache piggy banks to programming projects using computers and smartphones.

Some children, however, genuinely enjoy free research.

Takumi Minamihata, a 12-year-old sixth grader, created a popular board game during his first-grade summer research project. The game, which involves managing a zoo through land development and animal trading, was entirely designed by Takumi, including illustrations and rules. His dedication over 40 summer days earned full parental support.

The game's quality was so impressive that his parents submitted it to a toy company competition. In July 2023, "TAKUMI ZOO" (Hanayama Co., 3300 yen) was released and exceeded sales expectations threefold. The game, featuring illustrations from Takumi's first-grade project, won the Excellence Award in the Communication Toy category at the 2023 Japan Toy Awards.

Source: TBS

Toyota to Launch Self-Driving Taxis in 2027

Toyota Motor will begin operating fully autonomous taxis in 2027 through a partnership with U.S. self-driving technology company Waymo, marking a major step in the Japanese automaker's efforts to expand driverless transportation services.

Mount Fuji Puts on First Snowcap

Mount Fuji has received its first snowcap of the season, the Japan Meteorological Agency announced on October 30, after temperatures at the summit plunged to minus 9.4 degrees Celsius, marking the arrival of winter conditions on Japan's highest mountain.

Chinese Female Spy Suspected of Targeting Nvidia Chief

U.S. intelligence agencies suspect that a Chinese female intelligence operative developed a close relationship with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang in an attempt to obtain confidential corporate and U.S. government information, according to a report published by The New York Times on October 29th.

Japan Blocks Websites Leaking GMO Personal Data

The Japanese government has asked major telecommunications operators to forcibly block access to websites believed to contain personal information stolen in a cyberattack on GMO, it emerged on October 29th, as authorities moved to prevent further exposure of sensitive data online.

Typhoon No. 31 Heads Toward Japan's Remote Islands

Typhoon No. 31 was located near Minamitorishima Island in the Pacific Ocean, as of 3 a.m. on October 30, and was expected to approach the Ogasawara Islands south of Tokyo over the October 31-November 1 weekend while maintaining very strong intensity, bringing a growing risk of dangerously high waves, powerful swells and extremely rough seas.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Education NEWS

Japan's Sex Education Restrictions Leave Schools Struggling

A Japanese midwife is campaigning to reform sex education in schools, traveling across the country to teach children about their bodies, pregnancy, contraception, and sexual violence prevention, as longstanding restrictions in the national curriculum leave teachers uncertain about how much information they can provide.

One in Five Japanese Children Spend No Time Reading

Japan's children are increasingly turning away from books, with a nationwide survey finding that more than 70% spend less than an hour reading each week and nearly one in five do not read at all, raising concerns about literacy and learning as schools and families search for ways to rebuild reading habits.

France protests: Muslim Brotherhood linked groups accused of fuelling unrest

France has seen days of protests in Paris over the rising cost of living and declining access to public services, including state education. Some demonstrations have been marred by violence and looting.

How Families Are Turning Overwork Deaths Into Court Cases

In Japan, excessive overtime work could lead to a presumed cause of death. Lots of workers have logged very high overtime hours. Families no longer accept compensation as the end of the matter and have started taking employers to court instead. These cases have started to decide what a company must know about its staff hours, and what it must do once it knows.

Police Video Exposes Threats Behind Illegal Jobs

Tokyo's Metropolitan Police Department has released a warning video highlighting the dangers of illegal part-time jobs advertised on social media, showing how young people can be drawn into organized crime through promises of easy money before being threatened with violence if they attempt to escape.

Japan Worker Shortage Puts Paper Teachers in Spotlight

Local governments across Japan are stepping up efforts to recruit people who hold teaching licenses but are not working in schools, known as "paper teachers," as a worsening teacher shortage has seen the national ratio of applicants to available elementary school teaching positions fall from 12.5 in fiscal 2000 to just 2 in 2025.

Chinese Parents Turn to Japan for a Better Education

A growing number of Chinese families are moving to Japan to escape their country's fiercely competitive education system, attracted by a more relaxed learning environment and better quality of life, as Japan's foreign resident population reaches a record 4.28 million and universities report a sharp increase in Chinese students seeking to build their futures in the country.

Record Low 28.2% of Japanese Parents Want a Second Child

The proportion of parents in Japan who want a second child has fallen to a record low of 28.2%, according to a survey by major life insurer Meiji Yasuda, highlighting growing financial pressures, demanding work schedules and concerns about the future that are making it increasingly difficult for families to consider having more children.

< 2 3 4 5 >