Moment of Truth
Japanese middle school students are under a great deal of pressure when it comes time to enter high school. To attend public high school in Japan, they must first be admitted into a specific school. There are 2 ways of gaining admission: (1) through an interview test, and (2) through a written exam. Most students choose the second strategy, as it is easier to prepare for.
Problems that students face under this system include the rule that they may only apply for one school, and the fact that each school has a limited number of openings available. So even if they pass the exam standards for their desired school, they are not guaranteed acceptance unless they rank within the number of positions available. If they fail the test or don't rank high enough, they are left with 2 basic options: scramble to find a private school willing to accept them before the school year starts next month, or quit school altogether.
Today was a day that could make or break a kid. At precisely 10:00 a.m., the results of this year's admission tests and interviews were revealed in front of the school. Shortly before this time, students began showing up, some with friends and relatives and some alone to see if their secret number is among those displayed on the green bulleting board, signaling that they will be permitted to continue on in the Japanese public education system. The following pictures were taken this morning of students hoping to gain admission into the high school I work at.
Problems that students face under this system include the rule that they may only apply for one school, and the fact that each school has a limited number of openings available. So even if they pass the exam standards for their desired school, they are not guaranteed acceptance unless they rank within the number of positions available. If they fail the test or don't rank high enough, they are left with 2 basic options: scramble to find a private school willing to accept them before the school year starts next month, or quit school altogether.
Today was a day that could make or break a kid. At precisely 10:00 a.m., the results of this year's admission tests and interviews were revealed in front of the school. Shortly before this time, students began showing up, some with friends and relatives and some alone to see if their secret number is among those displayed on the green bulleting board, signaling that they will be permitted to continue on in the Japanese public education system. The following pictures were taken this morning of students hoping to gain admission into the high school I work at.
Uncertainty.
Is it safe to look?
This whole family gets involved.
This boy refused to check for his number until his father dragged him up there.
Dad took a cell phone pic of the results, so there was nothing to be afraid of after all.
Jubilation!
More rejoicing.
Consoling.
Devastation.
:
Wow that sounds horrible. How old are these children? I can't believe the amount of pressure these kids must face...especially as quitting school is one of the possible consequences.
ooh the drama! excellently captured cindi, very stealth!^_~
Yeah good work Cindi - Feel hprrible for the ones that didnt make it!
Oh, I answered your tag as well. I hope theyre imteresting anough :-)
Pete
Speaka: The kids are 15. Also, I forgot that another option is to get sort of a high School equivalency degree, which is much less prestigious than a regular high school degree.
Kat: Thanks!
Stubby: I feel bad for them, too.
That sounds sooooo stressful. The look on these kids faces just about killed me. Yikes.
I saw the kids looking at the results in front of my school......1 in 3 was not accepted, so it was kind of ugly. I don't understand why they don't move the whole process back a few months to give the poor kids more time to find an alternative. Or, they could let them apply to more than one school.
1 in 4 didn't make it into my school. I think the problem with letting them apply to more than one school is that the smart kids would have multiple acceptances while the less smart kids would have to wait until the smart kids declined some of their schools.
Maybe the reason they wait until so late to let the kids find out is because they don't want to spoil their middle school graduation. I don't know, though.
thats so tough... it doesnt seem fair that even if they pass the exam they might not get in. About 1 in 3 of the kids checking their results didnt get in at my base school.
It would be a bit more paperwork, but would make so much more sense for the kids to be able to apply to more than 1 school.
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