Hitachi International School Teachers Exchange Programme

HISTEP '96

 

For the past three years the Hitachi company has invited parties of European teachers to participate in educational and cultural visits to Japan. Hitachi's aim is that, through these visits, a greater understanding of Japan and the Hitachi comapany will be promoted by dissemination of each teachers' experience within their schools and local areas. The European involvement follows on from the success of a similar programme for American teachers which is now in its tenth year. During the tour teachers visit Japanese schools and have discussions with Japanese teachers over educational issues; visit Hitachi headquarters, factories and laboratories; see historical and cultural sites in Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima; stay for a weekend with a Japanese family and become aquainted with some examples of traditional Japanese art. Part of the programme is common to both the American and European teachers. In 1995 Mr Norman Davies, our Head of Geography was selected to visit Japan and this year he was followed by Dr Peter Savan, our Head of Information Technology. Here is Dr Savan's account of his experience of HISTEP '96...

"One of the conditions of being accepted as a member of the Hitachi International School Teachers Exchange Programme (HISTEP '96) was to write a report of the trip and so with this in mind I kept a daily diary in a hard backed school notebook. However, the purpose of this report was never made quite clear to me. Was it simply to convey to Hitachi my impressions of Japan and its educational system, in which case it could be quite short, or was it to be used as a vehicle to improve the awareness of Japan and Japanese culture among my school colleagues, family and friends in which case it could be a fairly lengthy document? I eventually decided that both were probably true and began the task of word processing my handwritten scrawl. The more I typed the more I realised that, in addition to producing a report, I was also creating a souvenir for myself of one of the most wonderful experiences of my life.

When I applied for a place on HISTEP '96 I indicated that I hoped to be able to put an illustrated copy of my report on the Internet to reach a wider audience. To see the illustrations, simply click on the bright blue highlighted text within each chapter. I don't yet know how many pictures can be stored in my allocated Web Site space, but I intend to include as many as possible, although I also propose changing them from time to time so as to make each visit to this report slightly different. Many thanks to Bob Waldie from Blaengwawr School for his help in scanning the photographs for me as I don't yet have a scanner of my own. In my conclusion, in the final chapter, I have attempted to bring together my impressions of the Japanese educational system, Japanese traditions and culture and the general way in which this years trip was organised in the hope that it will be useful for Hitachi in planning future HISTEPs

This years participating teachers were:

Ms. Ingrid Farrell, The Masters School, USA; Ms. Jennifer Hartley, Lipman Middle School, USA; Mr. Bruce Salmestrelli, Plainsboro Regional High School, USA; Mr. John Waggener, Meadowcreek High School, USA; Mr. John Bibby, Furze Platt School, England; Mr. David Moloney, Ryeish Green School, England; Dr. Peter Savan, Aberdare Girls' School, Wales; Mr. Robert Waldie, Blaengwawr Comprehensive School, Wales; Ms. Ursula Weger, Gymnasium Seligenthal, Germany; Mr. Bartholomäus Huber, Ursulinen Realschule, Germany; Mr. Patrick Clastres, Lycée Jean Zay, France and Ms. Christine Michiels, Athenée Royal Air Pur, Seraing, Belgium

Our guides from Hitachi were:

Mr Kazuhisa Nemoto; Mr Norihiro Suzaki; Mr Yushi Akiyama; Mr Martijn Anthonissen and Ms Sabine Lange

I would appreciate constructive feedback from anyone, particularly those of you who have been on these trips before, with your impressions of this report and the way in which I have presented it - this is my first venture into creating web pages and I'd appreciate any advice you can give me. I sincerely hope you will not find the following pages too boring... "