Wooden Guides

While traversing between Nagoya and Kyoto, Japan, I came across a small

town with more than a few little walking wooden men. In Japan schools are

expected to aid in making sure their students are safe, even on the way to

school. In this little village, the local school set up a bunch of these

markers so that elementary school students always have a friendly little

guide to direct them in the right direction. These can often be found along

the walking routes to the elementary schools, as unlike here in The States,

almost all students, from the time they become students at a young age,

walk to school alone, even taking buses and trains. This little wooden

guide is a sort of extension of the schools authority over the lives and

passage of their students. Schools go very far out of their way to "look

after" their students. At a young age, this is definitely a good thing,

however once these students reach high school it is very much perceived as

oppressive and strict. In this regard the authority of the school to

dictate what route students will take from their home to the school is

acceptable as they are young and could use the protection. When you are a

senior in high school, however, this is not so easily swallowed. Such

outreach by a high school here in the United States would never be viewed

as acceptable by either the students or the parents.

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