Parents of students attending Musashino Higashi Gakuen raised concerned about the appointment of Kenzo Matsumura as early as February 2024. In their change.org petition, parents express their concerns that the school as a “safe haven for our children is in a deep state of crisis, and with an ever growing concern about the future of our school”.
Musashino Higashi Gakuen is an educational corporation that has two kindergartens, an elementary school, a junior high school, and a higher vocational school under its umbrella and is known for its inclusive education model, in which children with and without autism study together. A teacher at Musashino Higashi Gakuen says this with a grim resolve: “For the sake of the students and parents who remain, even though the school has had so many problems since the president was replaced, all the remaining teachers have no choice but to do what they can.”
Some parents have noted that “few places offer inclusive education for children with autism,” amid growing unease about the institution’s future: “Will the safety of children and the quality of education be maintained as before with so many teachers quitting? Many of my friends have already transferred to other schools. I’m just anxious about the new school year.”
A school operator in the Tokyo suburbs required parents of newly enrolled students to submit a written pledge promising not to leak internal school information to outside parties, sources have told the Mainichi Shimbun. Musashino Higashi Gakuen is known for its inclusive education model, in which children with and without autism study together. Some parents have noted that “few places offer inclusive education for children with autism,” amid growing unease about the institution’s future.
Musashino Higashi Gakuen, chaired by businessman Kenzo Matsumura, operates an elementary school, junior high school and vocational high school in the city of Musashino. The pledge included a clause stating parents would be subject to claims for damages if they violated its terms, prompting some to voice strong concerns, describing the measure as “suppression of free speech.”
A school operator in the Tokyo suburbs required parents of newly enrolled students to submit a written pledge promising not to leak internal school information to outside parties, sources have told the Mainichi Shimbun. Musashino Higashi Gakuen is known for its inclusive education model, in which children with and without autism study together. Some parents have noted that “few places offer inclusive education for children with autism,” amid growing unease about the institution’s future.
Two recent court proceedings in Japan have involved claims about the accused’s mental health: an appeal of nurse with autism whom was found guilty of murdering three patients and the man charged with killing Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Tokyo High Court upheld a lower court ruling on Wednesday that sentenced a 37-year-old former nurse to an indefinite prison term for murdering three patients at a hospital in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, in 2016.
Presiding Judge Toru Miura, noting that the defendant, Ayumi Kuboki, had autistic spectrum disorder at the time, said, “The anxiety and fear she felt during nursing work were so great that she felt physically unwell.”
Tuesday 2nd of April was the United Nation’s ‘Autism Awareness Day’.
Japan Airlines or JAL, Japan’s national airline, held a simulation boarding experience using an actual aircraft at Haneda Airport so that children with autism and other developmental disabilities can enjoy air travel with peace of mind.
A book entitled ‘How to Support Children with Autism’, published in Japan compares talking to people with autism to talking to foreigners.
Barrier Free Japan