Meguro UNESCO Lecture Series
“UNESCO Associated School in Ekaterinburg, Russia”
Sponsor: Meguro Board of Education Organizer: NPO Meguro UNESCO Association
Speaker: Ms. Coline Hattori, Former Lecturer at Athenee Francais
June 4 (Thu), 2009 18:30 ~ at Sakura Plaza / Attendees: 58
Ms. Coline Hattori, who inspected UNESCO associated schools in Russia together with her husband Mr. Eiji Hattori (Advisor to Meguro UNESCO Association) last year, began to talk about her impressions of the visit, speaking with a smile, mixing French and Japanese.
Students from elementary to high school study together in this school in Siberia, said to be “in the middle of the ice” for half a year. In this village the most impressive building is their UNESCO associated school. The most surprising thing was that the children were really energetic and lively. School is from 8am to 7pm. From 3pm the classes are devoted to art education, for example ballet and drama, and Ms Hattori said she was truly moved by their high level of study. She said she definitely wanted to show the success rate of the children who, under strict guidance, were cheerfully striving at their lessons, to parents who are worried about child-raising. She said that Japan and Western countries have various concerns about child-raising, but the starting point for raising children is found in this school.
On the other hand Ms. Hattori also talked about the ideal education that the children receive in the incredible environment at the UNESCO associated school in Ekaterinburg, a sizable city rich in natural resources. These students are the crème de la crème who have successfully passed the cut-throat entrance examination (acceptance rate is one out of seventy), and they carry the future of Russia on their shoulders. They are skilled in languages, and of course here too they are active in art education. Not sparing money when it comes to culture and art is a national characteristic, and she said she was really touched by that artistic nature! In addition, tuition is completely free. Presently Russia has around 300 UNESCO associated schools. Japan has also at last begun to put serious efforts into spreading this education system. Of course it is impossible to compare with a country where everything is paid for from public funds.
However, isn’t there some value to listening to the opinion that as they complete art education, students’ academic ability also grows?
In the last half Mr. Hattori joined in, sharing many interesting anecdotes of their exchanges with the local people and showing slides. The lecture was such a success that there were even people standing, and people’s high level of interest was seen.
-written by Takako Hayashi and translated by Emiko Nishimura
