The Hidden Lessons of Love Behind Japan’s School Cleaning Time and Lunch Duty

Cleaning, Serving, Belonging: The Quiet Education Behind Japanese School Life

moving abroad, I’ve noticed a lot of differences between Japan and the countries I’ve lived in since. one that stands out: how Japanese schools handle lunch and cleaning.

in most places I’ve lived, cleaning a school is a job for paid staff. lunch is prepared and served by professionals too. it’s rare to see kids grabbing a broom to sweep their own classroom, or taking turns serving each other’s meals.

when parents abroad find out how it’s done in Japan, I get asked the same two questions a lot.

“why do Japanese schools make kids clean and serve food? is it to save money on staff?” “aren’t kids supposed to be at school to focus on learning — why give them chores?”

but that’s not really what’s going on. lunch duty and cleaning time are one of the clearest examples of a philosophy Japan has quietly practiced for generations.

in most Japanese elementary schools, kids take turns serving lunch to their classmates. the child whose turn it is puts on a white apron, dishes out rice and the side dishes, pours the milk. it looks simple, but there’s a surprising amount packed into it.

and underneath it, something is being built — slowly, without anyone announcing it. a feeling that grows in a child through nothing more than small, repeated responsibilities. one that turns out to be…

Read the rest on Substack. https://open.substack.com/pub/homeatelier/p/the-hidden-lessons-of-love-behind?r=8q0n7i&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

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