Compulsory education in Japan ends at junior high, ninth grade.  Students continuing on to high school must pass entrance exams. High schools are either private by tuition, sponsored by a prefecture (state), or a combination of tuition and prefectural funding.  Students in high school (grades 10-12) prepare for the university entrance exams.  We visited the progressive Ehime Prefectural Matsuyama Central High School.  Education at  this high schoolis based on three pillars of develoment: physical fitness, mental fitness, and  moral fitness.  Faculty stressed that while entrance exam preparation was an important academic component, they were interested in developing a well-balanced student. 

The school motto is

High school students do not drive cars to school.  Many live quite a distance from the school and ride bikes.  School starts at 8:30 AM.  Instruction ends at 4:00 PM.  Students have a cleaning period when they literally clean the school.  There is no custodial staff.  Students do the cleaning of classrooms, lavatories, and common areas.  Students also bring their lunch to school since none is provieded as in the elementary and junior high.  Students purchase their uniforms, textbooks, and supplies.

math, science, history, and Japanese

art and music

calligraphy

lunch

cleaning

English oral communications

physical education, sports, and clubs

courtyard between buildings