Teachers: Thank you for inviting us to your school.

Shigeto-san: It is our pleasure to host a delegation of visiting American teachers and welcome you to our school. This senior high school is a special high school which requires that students be interested in an international course of study.

Teachers: What does that mean Shigeto-san?

Shigeto-san: Our students have usually exhibited an early interest in international studies and that is their reason for selecting Akifuchu. Ninety-one percent of our students attend university after graduation. We offer both the regular course of study and an international course of study. Since this is a prefectural school, certain students from the prefecture are invited for the regular course and any student from the prefecture can take the international course of study.

Teachers: What is the difference between the two courses of study?

Shigeto-san: I will give you a copy of our school handbook so you can see what we offer. However, I must say that certain standards apply to all our students. They include: following the school mottos; developing good social behaviors by saying "good-morning" and "good-bye"; attending school every day; and, encouraging close cooperation from their parents in the student and school activities. We firmly believe our school functions well because of the parental involvement.

Teachers: We are interested in your international connections.

Shigeto-san: We have had an international exchange with a school in Los Angeles for the last 10 years. Every March some of our students visit the L. A. school and every other year some of the American students visit Hiroshima. Other international exchange programs are with Australia and Malaysia. Some foreign students enroll for long and short stays at our school and Youth for Understanding and American Field Service send students to Akifuchu.

Teachers: We are sitting in a wonderful language laboratory room. Is this room typical of the facilities for language study found in Japanese schools?

Shigeto-san: I wish that were true! This room is only just over three years old and is a model for the prefecture, since they funded it. You will notice we use all Macintosh computers and we use a good deal of software from the United States. In fact, American lab materials are of better quality than the materials published in Japan. This lab is very special because we have electronic window shades, CD-ROM, and audio-visual equipment. Some of our 3rd year (12th grade students) still have difficulty with English so we have closed caption language aids. The teacher also uses program guides and movies to help the students speak English better. There are thirty assistant English teachers in the prefecture and we have one of those teachers on staff here at Akifuchu.

Teachers: As principal of this very important school, how much control do you have?

Shigeto-san: I am responsible for the healthy work atmosphere in my school. I spend a good deal of time with the teachers, talking about any problems they might have. I am able to control the environment of the school as well as the teachers who work here. The Central Board of Education (Mombusho) controls the curriculum.

Teachers: Do many of your students want to become teachers?

Shigeto-san: Yes. Many graduates want to enter private companies or work for the government but teachers are highly regarded in Japan and the salary is not too bad. However, it is not easy to become a teacher. Only one in seven test-takers pass. When I select my teachers, I am able to get information about their personal qualities as well as their professional degrees. The grade each teacher achieved on his college thesis determines his/her position on the selection list. In this school 75% of the teachers are men and 25% are women. Unfortunately, women have more limited opportunities. In this prefecture, out of 408 high schools, no woman is a principal or vice principal. In the Junior high schools some have administrative positions and in the elementary schools 10% of the principals are women.

Teachers: Please tell us something about the teacher's schedule.

Shigeto-san: Our teachers have three-to-four classes each day. They teach about 18 hours a week but they are in school very early and leave very late. Each class can have as many as forty students.

Teachers: Are your students required to study about the U.S.?

Shigeto-san: There is no mandated course of study similar to some global studies courses required in American high schools. Our students learn about the US through their English language class and in their social studies and world history classes.

Teachers: Thank-you for all your time Shigeto-san.