Working Parents’ Transition to Elementary Schools in Japan

Authors

  • Kai Takemori Graduate School of Education, The University of Tokyo

Keywords:

“The First Grade Barrier”, parental involvement, working parents in Japan, male-breadwinner model

Abstract

Recently in Japan, “The First Grade Barrier†phenomenon as the qualitative and quantitative shortage of out-of-school-hour care has become a big problem to working parents with children entering elementary schools. However, there is a possibility that working parents in Japan face barriers not only in reconciliation between their jobs and childcare, but also in relationships with schools or PTAs on their children’s entering schools. In this paper, the details of the gaps which working parents of first graders face in the transition from day-care centers to elementary schools were examined through an analysis of interview data of 25 parents. The problem shows a part of the discrepancy between the Japanese system of education and social welfare assuming male-breadwinner model and the changing lifestyles of Japanese families.

References

Amano K, “Shouichi no kabeâ€: Sonosaki no waku raifu baransu [“The first grade barrierâ€: The work-life balance from there on], retrieved January 26, 2015, from http://www.nli-research.co.jp/report/researchers_eye/2009/eye090708.html

Benesse Kyouiku Sougou Kenkyujo Jisedai Ikusei Kenkyushitsu [Benesse Educational Research and Development Institute Child Sciences and Parenting Research Office], Kosodate torendo chousa repoto, Dainikai shouichi mama to ko no houkago seikatsu repoto, Shougakkou ichinensei no kodomo wo motsu hahaoya 1,500 nin eno chousa yori [The child raising trend survey second report, After-school life report of first grade mothers and children, From the survey to 1,500 mothers with first grade children], Benesse Jisedai Ikusei Kenkyujo, Japan, 2010, Retrieved January 26, 2015, from http://berd.benesse.jp/up_images/research/research11_12.pdf 

Buchanan JM, “An Economic Theory of Clubsâ€, Economica, New Series, Wiley-Blackwell, vol.32, no.125, pp.1-14, 1965.

Chang K, “Compressed Modernity and Its Discontents: South Korean Society in Transitionâ€, Economy and Society, Routeledge, vol.28, no.1, pp.30-55, 1999.

Chrispeels J, Home-school Partnership Planner, County Office of Education, USA, 1988.

Coleman JS, “Social capital in the creation of human capitalâ€, American Journal of Sociology, The University of Chicago Press, vol.94, pp.95-120, 1988.

El Nokali NE, Bachman HJ, Votruba-Drzal E, “Parent involvement and children's academic and social development in elementary schoolâ€, Child Development, John Wiley and sons, vol.81, issue 3, pp.988-1005, 2010.

Epstein JL, School and Family Partnerships, Center on Families, Communities, Schools, and Children’s Learning, Johns Hopkins University, Report No.6, 1992.

Fan X, Chen M, “Parental Involvement and Students’ Academic Achievement: A Meta-Analysisâ€, Educational Psychology Review, Springer, vol.13, issue 1, pp.1-22, 2001.

Graue ME, Kroeger J, Prager D, “A Bakhtinian Analysis of particular home-school relationsâ€, American Educational Research Journal, Sage, vol.38, no.3, pp.467-498, 2001.

Griebel W, Niesel, R, “The Development of Parents in Their First Child’s Transition to Primary Schoolâ€, in Margetts K, Kienig A (eds.), International Perspectives on Transition to school: Reconceptualising Beliefs, Policy and Practice, Routledge, UK, 2013, pp.101-110

Griffith AI, Smith DE, Mothering for Schooling, Routeledge, USA, 2005.

Henderson AT, Marburger CL, Ooms T, Beyond the bake sale: An educator's guide to working with parents, National Committee for Citizens in Education, USA, 1986.

Hirota T, Nihonjin no shitsuke wa suitai shitaka: “Kyouiku suru kazoku†no yukue [Has Japanese home-discipline declined?: Where “educating families†go], Koudansha Gendaishinsho, Japan, 1999.

Hirota T, “PTA chiiki no kyouikuron saikou [Rethinking the theory of education by PTA and community]â€, in Hirota T (ed.), “Risou no kazoku†wa dokoni arunoka [Where is the “ideal familyâ€?], Kyouikukaihatu Kenkyuzyo, Japan, 2002.

Honda Y, Tagenka suru “nouryoku†to nihon shakai: haipa meritokurashika no nakade [Diversifying “competence†and Japanese society: Amidst the development of hyper-meritocracy], NTT Shuppan, Japan, 2005a.

Honda Y, “Kodomo toiu risuku: Josei katsuyou to shoushika taisaku no ryouritsu wo habamu mono [Children as risk: The obstacle to the reconciliation of empowering women and measures to declining birthrate]â€, Tachibanaki T (ed.), Gendai josei no roudou, kekkon, kosodate [Modern women’s labor, marriage, and child rearing], Minerva Shobo, Japan, pp.65-93, 2005b.

Honda Y, “Katei kyouiku†no airo: Kosodate ni kyouhaku sareru hahaoyatachi [The bottleneck of “home educationâ€: Mothers obsessed by child rearing], Keiso Shobo, Japan, 2008.

Hoover-Dempsy KV, Bassler OC, Brissie JS, “Parent Involvement: Contributions of teacher efficacy, school socioeconomic status, and other school characteristicsâ€, American Educational Research Journal, Sage, vol.40, no.2, pp.319-351, 1987.

Hornby G, Lafaele R, “Barriers to parental involvement in education: an explanatory modelâ€, Educational Review, vol.63, issue 1, pp.37-52, 2011.

Ikemoto M (ed.), Kodomo no houkago wo kangaeru: Shogaikoku tono hikaku de miru gakudouhoiku mondai [Thinking childrens’ after

school: Out-of-school-hour care problem compared with foreign countries], Keiso Shobo, Japan, 2009.

Kawabata Y, PTA saikatsuyou ron: Nayamashiki genjitsu wo koete [Reutilizing PTA: Beyond the troubling reality], Chuko Shinsho Rakure, Japan, 2008.

Kodama R, “Kazoku to gakkou no renkei toiu koto [Coordination of Family and School]â€, in Kimura R, Kodama R (eds.), Kyouiku kazoku wo jenda de katareba [Talking about education and family from the view of gender], Hakutakusha, Japan, 2005.

Kyou K, Youshourenkei ni kansuru seisaku to rinen ni tsuite no ichikousatsu: Chuou kyouiku shingikai toushin to youchien kyouiku youryou wo chushin ni [A study on the policy and philosophy on cooperation of kindergarten and elementary school -in the center to the point- the Central Education Council report and kindergarten education-], Waseda Daigaku Daigakuin Kyouikugaku Kenkyuka Kiyou [The Bulletin of the Graduate School of Waseda University], Separate Volume, vol.20, issue 1, pp.67-78, 2012.

Lareau A, Unequal Childhoods: Class, race, and family life, University of California Press, USA, 2003.

Lew J, Asian Americans in class: Charting the achievement gap among Korean American youth, Teacher’s College, USA, 2006.

Lueder DC, Creating partnerships with parents: An educator’s guide, Scarecrow Press, USA, 2000.

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, “ ‘Heisei 24 nendo koyou kintou kihon chousa’ no gaiyou [Summary of ‘Basic Survey of Gender Equality in Employment Management 2012’], 2013, retrieved February 6, 2015, from http://www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/list/dl/71-24e.pdf

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, “Kodomo houkago jidou kenzen ikusei jigyou ni tsuite [Service for sound upbringing of after-school children]â€, retrieved January 27, 2015, from http://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/0000027098.html

Ministry of Social and Family Development, Government of Singapore, “Student Care Centersâ€, 2014, retrieved February 3, 2015, from http://app.msf.gov.sg/Policies/Strong-and-Stable-Families/Nurturing-Protecting-the-Young/Child-and-Student-Care-Centres-Services/Student-Care-Centres

Miyoshi M, Renkei to kyoudou no gakudouhoiku ron: Sosharu inkurujon ni muketa “houkago†no kanousei [The theory of coordinative and cooperative out-of-school-hour care: Possibility of after school hours for social inclusion], Kaihou Shuppansha, Japan, 2012.

Ochiai E, The Japanese Family System in Transition: A Sociological Analysis of Family Change in Postwar Japan, LCTB International Library Foundation, Japan, 1997.

Ochiai E, “Kea daiamondo to fukushi rejimu: Higashiajia tounanajia 6 shakai no hikaku kenkyu [Care Diamonds and Welfare Regimes in East and Southeast Asian Societies]â€, in Ochiai E (ed.), Shinmitsuken to koukyouken no saihensei: Ajia kindai karano toi [Transformation of the Intimate and the Public in Asian Modernity], Kyoto University Press, Japan, pp.177-200, 2013.

Ochiai E, “Higashi ajia no teishusseiritsu to kazokushugi: Hanasshuku kindai toshiteno nihon [Unsustainable Societies: Low Fertility and Familialism in East Asia’s Compressed and Semi-compressed Modernities]â€, in Tetsugaku Kenkyu [Philosophical Studies], Kyoto Tetsugakukai, no.593, pp.1-32, 2012.

Ochiai E, “Joshou: Ajia kindai ni okeru shinmitsuken to koukyouken no saihensei: ‘asshuku sareta kindai’ to ‘kazokushugi’ [Introduction: Reconstruction of Intimate and Public Spheres in Asian Modernity]â€, In Ochiai E (ed.), op.cit., pp.1-38, 2013.

Ochiai E, Yamane M, Miyasaka Y et al., Gender Roles and Childcare Networks in East and Southern Asian Societies, in Ochiai E and Molony B (eds.), Asia’s New Mothers: Crafting Gender Roles and Childcare Networks in East and Southeast Asian Societies, Global Oriental, UK, pp. 31-70, 2008.

OECD, Babies and Bosses - Reconciling Work and Family Life: A Synthesis of Findings for OECD Countries, OECD publications, France, 2007.

Ogawa H, “Youshou kanren no shogiron wo tou: Youji no ‘shutaisei’ no hattatsu no kanten kara [Questioning arguments related to kindergartens and elementary schools: From the view of developing infants’ ‘ownership’]â€, In Proceedings of the Japan Educational Research Association 71st Conference, pp.402-403, 2012.

Olivos EM, The power of parents: A critical perspective of bicultural parent involvement in public schools, Peter Lang, USA, 2006.

Shimpo M, “ ‘Shouichi Puroburemu’ kenkyu no toutatsuten to korekara no kadai: Gakkoubunka no minaoshi niyoru kouka no aru hoyoushou renkei [The reaching point of ‘the first grade problem’ studies and the future issues]â€, Kobe Shinwa Joshi Daigaku Jidougaku Kenkyu [Kobe Shinwa Women’s University studies in Childhood Education], no.26, pp.113-129, 2007.

Souma N, Han S, “Kankoku: Houkago taisaku ni okeru kyouikufukushi no kokoromi [South Korea: Attempts for educational welfare in after school measures]â€, in Ikemoto M (ed.), op.cit., pp.141-158.

Suetomi K, “Kurabuzaika suru kouritsu gakkou to membashippu mondai: Bunkenteki kyouiku kaikaku ni okeru judouteki memba no ichiduke [Membership Problems in Public Compulsory Schools as ‘Club Goods’]â€, Nihon Kyouiku Gyousei Gakkai Nempo [The Annual Report of The Japan Educational Administration Society], vol. 31, pp.133-150, 2005.

Swap SM, Developing Home-School Partnerships: From Concepts to Practice, Teachers College Press, USA, 1993.

Taga F, Seibetsu yakuwari bungyou ga hitei sareru nakadeno chichioya yakuwari [Paternal role in the denial of labor division by gender role], Foramu Gendai Shakaigaku [Kansai Sociological Review], no.4, pp.48-56, 2005.

The Japan Institute for Labour Policy and Training (JILPT), Kosodate to shigoto no hazama ni iru joseitachi: JILPT kosodate setai zenkoku chousa 2011 no saibunseki [Women Fighting to Balance Between Child-rearing and Work―Re-analysis of the JILPT National Survey of Households with Children 2011―], JILPT Research Report, JILPT, no.159, 2013, retrieved January 26, 2015, from http://www.jil.go.jp/institute/reports/2013/documents/0159.pdf

Tsuyuguchi K, “Kouritsu shougakkou ni okeru hogosha segumento no ketteiyouin: Gakkou tono sougosayou, kateikouryokukan, komyunithi kouryokukan no shiten kara [Determinant factors concerning parents in public elementary schools: some aspects of the politics of education in the interaction of schools, family efficacy, and community efficacy]â€, Nihon Kyoiku Gyousei Gakkai Nempo [The Annual Report of Japan Educational Administration Society], vol.35, pp.165-181, 2009.

Tsuyuguchi K, “Hogosha nettowaku to gakkou shinrai [Parent Networks and School Trust]â€, Ehime Daigaku Kyouikugakubu Kiyou [Bulletin of the Faculty of Education Ehime University], Faculty of Education Ehime University, vol.59, pp.59-70, 2012.

Vincent C, Parents And Teachers: Power and Participation, Routledge, UK, 1996.

Williams DL Jr., Chavkin NF, Strengthening Parent Involvement, Streamlined Seminar, National Asociation of Elementary School Principals, vol.4, no.5, 1986.

Yamada Y, Otomo K, “Hoyoushou setsuzokuki ni okeru jittai to shien no arikata ni kansuru kentou: Hoyou 5saiji tannin, shouichinensei tannin, hogosha no ishiki kara toraeru [A Survey of the Current Situations and Support Strategies During the Transition Period From Preschool to Grade School: From the Viewpoints of the Teachers of Day Nurseries, Kindergartens, and First Grade Classrooms, and the Parents]â€, Tokyo Gakugei Daigaku Kiyou Sougou Kyouiku Kagaku Kei [Bulletin of Tokyo Gakugei University Division of educational sciences], vol.61, no.2, pp.97-108, 2010.

Yamane M, Hong S, “Kankoku no bosei to ikuji enjo nettowaku [South Korean motherhood and childcare support network]â€, in Ochiai E, Yamane M, Miyasaka Y (eds.), Ajia no Kazoku to Jenda [The Asian Family and Gender], Keiso Shobo, Japan, pp.33-50, 2007.

Zenkoku Gakudouhoiku Renraku Kyougikai [National Out-of-School-Hour Care Liaison Council], Gakudouhoiku no jisshi joukyou chousa no kekka ga matomaru [Results of the survey of out-of-school-hour care implementation], 2014, retrieved January 26, 2015, from http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/Gakudou/2014kasyosuu.pdf

Downloads

Published

2015-02-19

How to Cite

Takemori, K. (2015). Working Parents’ Transition to Elementary Schools in Japan. Asian Journal of Education and E-Learning, 3(1). Retrieved from https://ajouronline.com/index.php/AJEEL/article/view/2289