【ENG】
Many communities in Japan have a system called the children's organization. It is like a group of children in the neighborhood, and the board members are the parents of the members who take turns serving as directors.
A few years ago, I served two years on the board of the children's organization in the district where I live.
At the time, events were few and far between, as COVID-19 had just broken out. But I did devote a fair amount of time to it, and I think it was a role that required a lot of attention. I led the children at the district field day, prepared snacks for the day (just buying them and dividing them into smaller portions), collected membership fees, and so on.... My own son also benefited from the children's organization, so I took it for granted that I would take on the role of a board member.
However, when our term ended the year before last, there was no one available to serve as a board member for the following year. According to the rules, someone with no experience as a board member was supposed to take over. There were three eligible candidates, but two of them left the organization as soon as they were approached to serve on the board. The other one did not even reply to our message. In the end, the children's organization had to be disbanded because there were no board members.... The president, who had worked hard for the children for a long time, was very disappointed.
At the time, I also thought, well, maybe it would be nice and easy not to have an organization. However, problems still arise. For example, there is the district field day held every fall. Children in my district are not allowed to participate in this event, because it is required to sign up as a group, such as a town council, a neighborhood council, or a children's organization. ...Well, not exactly, but in order for the children to participate, adult help is required for registration, preparation, practice instruction, and chaperoning on the day of the event. However, as a result of the disappearance of the Children's Organization, there are no longer any " board members" and there are no longer any adults to take on these roles.
This school year, I am the head of the school attendance group at my elder son's elementary school. I am also an officer of the PTA, which came with it. As part of my duties as a PTA officer, I had to put together applications for participation in the fall field day. The children's organization that used to organize the applications no longer exists, so I have to contact all the parents in the district and decide whether or not we will participate in the field day.
Furthermore, I will not be able to lead or support the district children on the day of the field day because of my tasks as a PTA board member. The cooperation of other parents was essential because group competitions had to be practiced in advance. Therefore, I asked whether or not they wished to participate, including whether or not they would be able to obtain the cooperation of adults with regard to practicing in advance and leading the children on the day of the event....
In the end, there was only one person who wanted to participate, and since it was impossible for one person to participate as a group, it was decided that our district would not participate in the field day.
I am sure that on the inside many parents wanted their children to participate in the field day. I heard glimpses of such requests, and in fact, when there was a children's organization, there were many participants. But I think it was because they were able to leave everything to the board members. They want their children to participate, but they don't want to help run the event... I think that is a little too selfish.
Certainly, it is possible that this year's event was uncertain due to COVID-19, so it was difficult to coordinate the schedule with the announcement at this time of the year. But what about next year and beyond? It is somehow unsatisfactory that the adults disbanded the children's association because it was too much trouble, and as a result, the children are no longer able to participate in district events.
When I told my husband about it, he was angry and said, "There are too many free riders in the world!". I really agreed with him.
Sorry, I was just complaining🙏
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【JPN】
数年前、私は住んでいる地区の子ども会の役員を2年務めました。
ちょうどコロナが勃発した時期でイベントが減少していたため、負担はそれほど大きくありませんでした。でもそれなりに時間は割いたし、気を遣う役割だったと思います。地区の運動会で子どもたちを引率したり、当日のお菓子の準備（買って、小分けにするだけですが）をしたり、会費を集めたり…。息子も子ども会の恩恵を受けたので、役員を引き受けるのは当然のことだと考えていました。
ところが一昨年、私たちの任期が終了したとき、後を継いでくれる人が誰もいないという事態になりました。規則では、役員未経験者が引き継ぐことになっていました。対象者は3人いましたが、うち2人は役員を打診された途端に退会。もう一人からはメッセージの返信すらありませんでした。結局役員がいないため、子ども会は解散せざるを得ず…。それまで長い間、子どもたちのためにがんばってきた会長は、とてもガッカリしていました。
そのときは私も、まぁ子ども会がないならないで、気楽で良いのかもしれないと考えていました。でも、やはり何かと問題は生じるんですね。たとえば、毎年秋に開催される地区の運動会。この運動会は、町会・自治会・子ども会といった団体で申し込むことになっているため、私の地区の子どもたちは参加することができません。…いや、正確にはできないわけではないのですが、子どもたちを参加させるためには申し込みや準備、練習の指導、当日の引率・付き添いなど大人の手が必要です。しかし子ども会がなくなった結果、「役員」もいなくなり、こうした役割を担ってくれる大人がいなくなってしまったのです。
今年度、私は長男が通う小学校の登校班の班長を務めています。オマケでついてきたPTAの役員も。そのPTA役員の仕事の一環として、秋の運動会への参加申し込みをまとめなければなりませんでした。これまで申し込みを取りまとめていた子ども会がもう存在しないため、私が地区の保護者全員と連絡をとり、運動会への参加するかどうかを決定しなければなりません。
しかも運動会当日は私がPTA役員としての仕事があるため、地区の子どもたちの引率やサポートはできません。団体競技は事前に練習をしなければならないでしょうし、他の保護者の協力は不可欠です。そのため、事前の練習や当日の引率等に関して、保護者の協力が得られるかどうかも含め確認したのですが…。
結局、参加希望者は1人だけでした。1人では団体としての参加が不可能なので、私たちの地区は運動会に参加しないことが決まりました。
内心では、多くの保護者が自分の子どもを運動会に参加させたいと思っていたはずです。そのような声もチラホラ聞いていましたし、現に子ども会があった頃は大勢の参加者がいたので。でも、それも役員に全て任せることができたからだったのでしょう。子どもは参加させたいけど、自分は運営に協力したくない… それはちょっとワガママすぎるのでは、と思ってしまいます。
確かに、今年はコロナの影響で開催が不確定だったため、この時期の案内ではスケジュール調整が難しかった可能性もあります。でも、来年以降はどうなんだろう？大人が面倒だからと子ども会を解散させた結果、子どもたちが地区の行事に参加できなくなってしまったというのは何だかモヤモヤします。
夫に話したら「世の中フリーライダーが多すぎるんだよな！」と怒っていましたが、本当ソレだわと思いました。
・・・・・ごめんなさい、愚痴でした🙏