Musings of an Endangered Species Teacher Who Thinks Extracurricular Activities Are a Hobby

It might be going against the flow of the times, but
in addition to being the advisor for the track and field club,
which I have been doing for 15 years (and still am),
starting this year, I am also the advisor for a newly established club.

It is the Hyakunin Isshu Karuta club, which became popular
thanks to the manga "Chihayafuru."

Originally, during my Japanese language classes,
whenever there was some spare time,
I would have the students play Hyakunin Isshu Karuta.

I personally love the poems of the Hyakunin Isshu,
and I often used them in workshops and the like,
so little by little, the number of Karuta fans in the school increased,
and starting last year, students appeared who raised their voices saying,
"We want to start a Karuta club!!"
Naturally, they came to me saying, "Mr. Edase, please be our advisor. Please!"

I thought, "Oh boy, give me a break," but
since the students were so persistent in their negotiations,
I decided to respect their seriousness
and accepted.

When I said I was going to start a club,
and on top of that, do it while also being the advisor for the track and field club,
I faced opposition even at the staff meeting (bitter laugh).

Originally, I am not a track and field specialist.
I have also never played Hyakunin Isshu Karuta.
I am holding two advisor positions outside of my specialty.

Since I like Waka poetry, for example, if there is a poem like "Konu hito o matsuho no ura no yunagi ni...", I would love to talk endlessly with the students about the splendor of its content, including the author's way of life, but the world of Karuta is a different dimension from the interpretation of Waka; only the single sound of the "ko" in the upper phrase is important. How can one win at Karuta? That was a completely unknown world to me.

The reason I can serve as an advisor even as such a complete amateur
is because I am conscious of not hindering
the autonomy of the club members.

Students who say "I want to play Karuta!" and take action to establish a club are not ordinary. I intuitively felt that livening up the club activities together with them would also lead to motivation for my own work.

In fact, the passion and actions the members put into Karuta are remarkable.

At their first tournament in July, everyone lost in the first round.
I thought they might be discouraged after receiving a baptism of competitive Karuta, which is on a completely different level from the school's Hyakunin Isshu tournament, but one member joined a local Karuta association to seek instruction from a professional coach.

It just so happened that the instructor was a member of the prefectural high school enhancement committee, so they contacted me as well, and through that connection, they began to provide regular guidance to the members.

This was the turning point.

How should the cards be arranged?
How should we attack the opponent's territory?
How can we eliminate fouls?
Or, how can we induce the opponent to commit a foul?

Concrete strategies and tactics were drilled into them, and the members improved rapidly.

At the second tournament, one person won the championship and another was the runner-up!
I was floating along, thinking "Wow, amazing, amazing," when I received a report the next day that the runner-up was in the infirmary, crying her eyes out. I thought, "Oh boy, how frustrated can you be?" and was impressed by how dedicated they were to Karuta. Karuta is a sports-oriented activity!

There was a member who was strong in practice but couldn't win at tournaments, and was starting to lose confidence. However, that child is exceptionally good at communicating with lower-grade students and is well-liked by her juniors. When we held a meeting, as expected, she was elected as the next club president.

Then, that president, together with another second-year student, began thinking of plans one after another.
She blossomed with talent as an idea person.

Teacher! We want to call out to the whole school at Christmas and hold a Karuta tournament!
I think it will also lead to recruiting members for next year!!

Teacher! We want to have a training camp!
Oh, it's not possible at school...
In that case... I understand, we will gather privately on our own and have a training camp.
We'll look for a guesthouse!!

The momentum of high school students once their motivation switch is flipped is truly incredible...

I clearly draw the line between what I can and cannot do, so I tell them straight out when something is impossible or not allowed. I never work in a self-sacrificing way. I am tired of cutting into my own time and burning myself out (bitter laugh).

They greedily challenge themselves within the 'scope of what is possible,' using their creativity to figure out how to get stronger and how to have fun. It seems that having the 'scope of what is possible' clearly defined actually makes it more rewarding for them to work hard.
As their advisor, I am constantly impressed.

At the third tournament the other day,
we had two winners and two runners-up.

To repeat myself,
I am an amateur at karuta.
I provide absolutely no professional instruction.

But by valuing the students' autonomy and showing an attitude that respects each individual's role,
they take action on their own and produce results.

There is a line that Coach Anzai
muttered to himself in the manga 'Slam Dunk'.

To be able to clearly see their growth day by day,
it is the greatest pleasure.
It is a hobby.

I understand this feeling very well.

As long as the direction of club management is not wrong and you foster the students' autonomy, the children will change right before your eyes. They will grow. This is a hobby (laughs).
I can honestly say that there is no happier job than being able to stand right there next to them and witness it.

Because the students' eyes start to sparkle. One club member was a habitual latecomer, but since the karuta club got on track, they have had zero tardies and their grades have improved.

But then,
if you ask me,
'Are you a proponent of club activities??'
I cannot simply nod in agreement.
I probably wouldn't recommend it
to new teachers or those with little teaching experience.

I have been very fortunate with my students and professional instructors,
and (honestly) the burden of serving as both the track and field advisor and the karuta club advisor is significant.

I am only able to manage the club this way because I have years of experience in classroom management and committee guidance, have learned how to skillfully ask for support from those around me, and pay close attention to not taking on all the work by myself.

Also, I can do it because I am convinced that the rewards (the students' growth and my own sense of fulfillment) outweigh the effort I put in.

If conscientious teachers were forced to manage clubs passively without that conviction, they would likely become physically and mentally exhausted. It is a job that cannot be done without accumulating a considerable amount of study, training, and experience.

It seems that public opinion regarding club activities these days sometimes stems from people who do not know the reality of club guidance.

There are many teachers who consider club activities a hobby and find fulfillment and purpose in life there. I would like to avoid having that hobby taken away in one fell swoop.
However, a hobby is a hobby. Please never force it on teachers in addition to their main duties (teaching and student guidance).

In the end, it is a matter of how each individual teacher, parent, and student 'assigns meaning' to club activities.

You cannot leave the 'assigning of meaning' to the authorities or others.
'Assigning meaning' is something that only individuals can do.

That is all for today.
Thank you for reading until the end. I hope this was at least a little helpful to you.