A very special day today! P & T Free School here in Niigata, Japan celebrates 10 years of free school/unschool learning and self-directed education for kids, and held a BBQ for staff and volunteers. It was my pleasure to take part!
We arrived at 11 and found a whole bevy of grills in action, plus personal, on-table grills for cooking the selection of beef, pork, and veggies the staff and students had prepared for us.
The kids were able to run around and play, I enjoyed a lovely and unexpected conversation with a local massage therapist about classic jazz, and how much we both love Thelonius monk. We both lamented the end of the crazy era of the 50s and 60s!
Three of the students put on a “dinner show,” mimicking a popular comedy troupe here in Japan, and I was impressed with the nuanced humor of the show, and the focus and talent with which the kids pulled it off. Was really intriguing.
After plenty of food and drink, we headed inside to watch the students perform all together. A chorus number, and then a dance number.
At the beginning of all the festivities the founder of the school, Suzuki-san, gave a touching speech thanking everyone that’s had helped the school over the past ten years. To my surprise my family was included in this speech.
I had a wonderful time, and am pleased to report that unschooling, individual self-ownership, and freedom and real care for kids as they make their own, individual and unique ways in this world, is alive and well here in the last place one might expect, in rural, Northwestern Japan.
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~KafkA
(Thanks for stopping by! If you missed the last installment of Unschooling Blog, Vol. 51: “We’re already getting ready for Halloween! How about you?,” you can find that HERE.)
Graham Smith is a Voluntaryist activist, creator, and peaceful parent residing in Niigata City, Japan. Graham runs the "Voluntary Japan" online initiative with a presence here on Steem, as well as DLive and Twitter. (Hit me up so I can stop talking about myself in the third person!)