"Population Decline and Collapse of Multi-Generational Families to Blame"
Complaints Over Lack of Cherry Blossoms at Entrance Ceremonies
This is an image of a Japanese elementary school lunch, unrelated to the article content. The Asia Business Daily DB
It has been reported that teachers in Japan are facing difficulties due to excessive demands from parents. The reasons are varied, ranging from complaints that cherry blossoms did not bloom properly during entrance ceremonies to dissatisfaction with school lunch menus. Parents protest using every possible means-phone calls, emails, at all hours of the day and night-leading to the resurgence of the term "monster parents."
On the 16th (local time), the South China Morning Post (SCMP) in Hong Kong reported that the sense of despair among Japanese teachers is growing. The issue has become so serious that authorities in Tokyo are planning to introduce official guidelines to protect teachers from parental harassment and to clarify what parents can demand from schools.
The issue of teacher harassment in Japan first came to public attention in 2007 when educator Mukoyama Yoichi coined the term "monster parents." It refers to the "unreasonable and incomprehensible demands" made by parents who berate teachers day and night. He explained that such behavior has since evolved into even more cunning and cruel forms.
Teachers unanimously say that today's parents are more aggressive and assertive about their rights than ever before. Some have been criticized because cherry blossoms did not bloom during entrance ceremonies, others have faced complaints about unappetizing school lunches, and in some cases, parents have protested simply because their child was bitten by an insect.
According to Fuji TV News, there was also a controversial case in which, after a young child suffered a minor injury, the parents demanded not only medical expenses from the school but also compensation for the cost of dinner.
Experts explain that the root causes of these problems lie in demographic and social changes. Izumi Tsuji, a professor at Chuo University in Tokyo, said, "As the number of children born in Japan declines, parents are focusing all their attention on their children's well-being and academic success." He further analyzed, "With the collapse of traditional multi-generational family units and communities, parents lack alternative support structures and instead express their dissatisfaction toward schools."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
