A Simple Life: Sleep, Eat, Work & Play

Little talents in Japan

Went to the Ishibetsu neighbourhood concert held at Ishibetsu JHS today. Ishibetsu JHS is a very small school with just a couple of tens of students. Yet, I can't help being amazed at how talented Japanese kids seem to be. One boy plays excellent piano as well as the taiko. Even some students in the disabled class play the handbell or the taiko.

Talking about the disabled students, it seems like they have a different approach in Japan. While in Singapore, the disabled probably go to special schools (if I'm not wrong), in Japan, seem like they simply enter them into normal mainstream schools. All my schools have a special class just for the disabled students. According to their abilities, they are allowed to participate in classes and mainstream school life to an extent.

Never thought of this much in Singapore. But think in Japan's approach, the students are better assimiliated into the mainstream. They have more chance to interact with normal people and vice versa. Like today, it was great seeing them perform taiko together as a school group. And if you try talking to the disabled students, you'll find them really sweet and talented in their own ways.

posted by weiling @ 11:52 PM