03 Creating a New System
/03 Creating a New System
At *Kanna’s school, there were four subject lessons in the morning.
/At *Kanna’s school, there were four subject lessons in the morning.
Language, math, science, social studies… all were important, but *Kanna always felt, “It’s kind of rushed.”
/Language, math, science, social studies… all were important, but *Kanna always felt, “It’s kind of rushed.”
Break time was only five minutes between classes.
/Break time was only five minutes between classes.
By the time she went to the bathroom, put away her textbooks, and got ready for the next class, the bell had already rung.
/By the time she went to the bathroom, put away her textbooks, and got ready for the next class, the bell had already rung.
There was no time to talk with friends or take a deep breath.
/There was no time to talk with friends or take a deep breath.
One day, a transfer student named Ryu joined *Kanna’s class.
/One day, a transfer student named Ryu joined *Kanna’s class.
Ryu had just come from a school in another region.
/Ryu had just come from a school in another region.
“This school has short break times. At my old school, there was a 20-minute long break between the second and third periods. We played outside and talked with teachers.”
/“This school has short break times. At my old school, there was a 20-minute long break between the second and third periods. We played outside and talked with teachers.”
*Kanna was surprised.
/*Kanna was surprised.
“Wow, you had such a long break? That sounds nice.”
/“Wow, you had such a long break? That sounds nice.”
The story quickly spread through the class, and everyone started saying, “I wish our school was like that too.”
/The story quickly spread through the class, and everyone started saying, “I wish our school was like that too.”
*Kanna was a member of the student council. At the next meeting, she bravely made a suggestion.
/*Kanna was a member of the student council. At the next meeting, she bravely made a suggestion.
“Can we add a long break between the second and third periods like at Ryu’s old school? I think it would help us relax both mentally and physically.”
/“Can we add a long break between the second and third periods like at Ryu’s old school? I think it would help us relax both mentally and physically.”
Other members agreed.
/Other members agreed.
“It might help teachers prepare for their lessons too.”
/“It might help teachers prepare for their lessons too.”
“It could even improve study efficiency!”
/“It could even improve study efficiency!”
The student council created a survey and asked all students and teachers for their opinions.
/The student council created a survey and asked all students and teachers for their opinions.
Most of the responses were in favor.
/Most of the responses were in favor.
Based on the results, the student council submitted a proposal to the principal.
/Based on the results, the student council submitted a proposal to the principal.
The principal looked a bit surprised, but soon smiled.
/The principal looked a bit surprised, but soon smiled.
“It’s wonderful that you all thought and took action. Let’s discuss it with the teachers and give it a try.”
/“It’s wonderful that you all thought and took action. Let’s discuss it with the teachers and give it a try.”
The following month, a trial “relaxation break” was introduced.
/The following month, a trial “relaxation break” was introduced.
There was now a 20-minute break between the second and third periods.
/There was now a 20-minute break between the second and third periods.
Children played outside, read books in the library, or talked with teachers.
/Children played outside, read books in the library, or talked with teachers.
While playing catch with Ryu outside, *Kanna said,
/While playing catch with Ryu outside, *Kanna said,
“It feels like the morning is easier now. My mind is clearer, and I can focus better in class.”
/“It feels like the morning is easier now. My mind is clearer, and I can focus better in class.”
Ryu smiled.
/Ryu smiled.
“Right? Everyone at my old school said the same thing.”
/“Right? Everyone at my old school said the same thing.”
Teachers also found it easier to prepare for lessons, and the classroom atmosphere became brighter.
/Teachers also found it easier to prepare for lessons, and the classroom atmosphere became brighter.
The principal thanked the student council.
/The principal thanked the student council.
“What you all did to make school life more comfortable improved the whole school.”
/“What you all did to make school life more comfortable improved the whole school.”
*Kanna thought to herself,
/*Kanna thought to herself,
“Thinking, acting, and making changes ourselves is really important.”
/“Thinking, acting, and making changes ourselves is really important.”
And the student council’s next goal was to “add more relaxation to afternoon activities.”
/And the student council’s next goal was to “add more relaxation to afternoon activities.”
*Kanna and her friends had already started thinking about a new system.
/*Kanna and her friends had already started thinking about a new system.
Review Questions (Multiple Choice)
/Review Questions (Multiple Choice)
Q1. When was the new break time added at *Kanna’s school?
/Q1. When was the new break time added at *Kanna’s school?
A. Between the first and second periods
/A. Between the first and second periods
B. Between the second and third periods
/B. Between the second and third periods
C. Between the third and fourth periods
/C. Between the third and fourth periods
Q2. What changed after the new break time was introduced?
/Q2. What changed after the new break time was introduced?
A. Study efficiency decreased
/A. Study efficiency decreased
B. Teachers became busier
/B. Teachers became busier
C. People felt more relaxed in body and mind
/C. People felt more relaxed in body and mind
Let’s Think!
/Let’s Think!
① Is there something in your school or class that makes you think, “I wish it were different”? What could you do to change it?
/① Is there something in your school or class that makes you think, “I wish it were different”? What could you do to change it?
② To make group life more comfortable, how do you think we should gather everyone’s opinions and make decisions?
/② To make group life more comfortable, how do you think we should gather everyone’s opinions and make decisions?
