Masaichiro Nashiro
Vice Principal
Okinawa Shogaku Jr. & Sr. High School
Shogaku Gakuen Educational Foundation
Doctor of Education

Vice Pricinpal’s Corner

HUMAN STRENGTH

A PEACE OF MIND FROM DOING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN RELATION TO DEVELOPING A HIGHER LEVEL OF “HUMAN STRENGTH”

          A number of efforts have been made to realize “relaxed learning” based around a five-day school week. From the start, rather than defining “relaxed” in the physical sense of more time, I think it is better defined in the mental sense of the word. Only when people do what they must do they are able to gain inner peace of mind. I think that creating a proper environment and instructing students on how to do this are some of the most important factors in realizing a more relaxed form of learning.
          The result of the efforts to realize this educational concept has been the creation of a first class preparatory school in Okinawa Prefecture that has not only produced impressive academic results, but also has a very proud record in baseball, judo, and other sport competitions. Furthermore, the school has participated in NASA space shuttle space experiments and a number of volunteer activities that have brought us significant recognition within the local community. As these achievements show, the peace of mind that comes from doing what needs to be done in turn enhances the meaning of compassion towards others, the desire to participate in volunteer activities, feelings of appreciation, and a positive attitude to further understanding of everything around you. What I would really like you to consider, though, is that volunteer work by itself doesn`t constitute community service.
In community service, there should be aspects of volunteer work as well as assigned responsibilities. Of course, self initiated volunteer work should be encouraged. This is of enormous value when considered from a childhood education point of view. However, with volunteer work, any work taken up under one’s own initiative is normally carried out with a certain degree of commitment. On the other hand, when one is assigned volunteer work there is a tendency to some degree to neglect what needs to be done. This is a point that needs to be more carefully considered.
In considering issues such as the future state of the economic situation of Japan in respect to the global community, the international monetary contributions provided by Japan in the past will become more difficult to continue, and it is likely that the role of each and every Japanese citizen will be questioned. Even in such a given situation, we are confident that our role as educators will be to promote the “human power” of our students by employing a diverse array of methods that I recommend by the following means:

ENRICHING ACADEMIC ABILITY - ENRICHING HUMAN POWER

FROM DREAMS TO GOALS

          Feelings of yearning, holding on to dreams and then turning those dream into goals, and working step by step to achieve those goals is a process of immense value. Your peers, who have graduated and have taken their university entrance examinations and have converted their dreams into goals, they have grown tremendously and achieved their desired results.

PROMOTE INDIVIDUALITY

          Know yourself and put your own individual traits to good use. Your true self can be revealed through working dilignetly towards your goals. Through this you will begin to see your wonderful true self; that is your individuality.

THINK FOR YOURSELF

          Don’t simply memorize what you are being taught. Study so you can tell others about what you have learned in your own words. By doing this, not only will you have the satisfaction of understanding what it is you are learning , but you will also gain confidence, and learning will become easier. You will be able to think for yourself.

DON’T GIVE UP WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH

          You will never progress by simply doing what you can do without making an effort. Only by striving to accomplish something will you truly achieve satisfaction and personal growth. Peace of mind is not more time, but rather, it is something that is born of effort.

DON’T BE SELF-CONSCIOUS WHEN IT COMES TO SERVICE

          Doing something for others is a source of strength. Helping others lets you show courage, action, a sense of justice, and kindness. It also serves to strengthen you as a person.