Japanese cities' lack of seasonal balance due to a man-made biodiversity

**DoctorP** · Sep 19, 2006, 03:56

Originally Posted by epigene

Yes, I've done that, too. And so did my children (now in their 20s).

Perhaps Japanese schools are not as extremely homogenous as some people think.

**epigene** · Sep 19, 2006, 04:28

Originally Posted by CC1

Perhaps Japanese schools are not as extremely homogenous as some people think.

I can't say for sure, but curriculum can change quite frequently (like in, say, five years or so) and also differ by type of school. Also, the schoolteacher has significant elbow room on what part of the textbook is emphasized, especially in elementary school. A teacher with keen interest in nature can organize special outdoor classes, spend double class time on it, etc. The opposite can be true, of course.

FYI, I went to a "mission" (i.e. Catholic) school. My kids went to local public schools here in Tokyo. My 4th and 5th grade teacher in elementary school liked field excursions. I can't say how extensively my kids studied plants and trees, but I did have to accompany them on excursions to collect leaves, etc.