Mild Check for Education Board and Intimidation to Teachers: Supreme Court conclude politically on Kimigayo-related suspensions

The supreme court gave rulings on January 16 on three lawsuits filed by a total of 166 public school teachers who refused to stand and sing Kimigayo anthem at schools events. The court annulled suspensions and pay-cuts regarding two plaintiffs acknowledging that such punishments by Tokyo Metropolitan Education Board were excessive. However, the reprimands given to other 163 plaintiffs were endorsed.
While some appreciate the court's decision on the account that it will control the education board's moves to some extent, many find it unsatisfactory because the suspension was not annulled in the case of Ms. Kimiko Nezu, the icon of Kimigayo lawsuits. Both the plaintiff herself and the supporters were puzzled at first, but they came to understand what happened as they closely examined the verdict: The record of suspensions prior to the present case, including the one for ripping of Hinomaru flag, was mentioned. Mr. Makoto Iwai, the layer representing Ms. Nezu, severely criticized the court in the debriefing session. "The verdict shows the strong feeling of disgust the judges have against Ms. Nezu. They are determined not to tolerate those who disturb the order. It will impose enormous pressure on public schools." While the court mildly warned the education board, it relentlessly ruled out the plea of Ms. Nezu most probably to intimidate those may follow her suit.
The two-sided verdict reflects a political intension of the supreme court to interrupt the solidarity among teachers fighting against Kimigayo. (By M)
Photo News; Report by Yumi Sasaki; YouTube Video; Video (Remark of Lawyer Makoto Iwai); Photo: Lawyer Iwai showing the banner accusing the two-sided verdict


「一定の歯止め」と「見せしめ」～最高裁「君が代処分」で政治的判決
1月16日、最高裁で「君が代不起立」教員に対する3つの裁判（計166名）の判決があった。判決では、都教委が停職処分や減給処分までしたのはやりすぎとして、2名については停職・減給を取り消したが、163名の戒告処分は是認した。「一定の歯止めがかかった」と評価する声もあったが、問題が残った。「不起立」のシンボル的存在である根津公子さんの停職処分取り消しがなかったからだ。「一体なぜ?」本人も支援者も「狐につままれた」状態。判決文を読んで分かったことは、根津さんの過去の処分歴（日の丸引き降ろし等）が問題にされていたことだ。岩井信弁護士は報告集会で、「根津さんへの嫌悪感に満ちた判決文。秩序を乱す人間については許さないという内容で、教育現場に息苦しい重圧をもたらすもの」と痛烈に批判した。「一定の歯止め」をかけた一方で容赦ない「見せしめ」、最高裁が二つの顔を体現した政治的分断判決だった。（M） 写真速報・動画（YouTube）　　・動画（岩井信弁護士のコメント）＊写真＝「分断判決弾劾」の垂れ幕をだす岩井弁護士

'Education Is 20 Thousand Percent of Coertion': Hashimoto Aims for Rule of Politics over Education

The TMEB Houi Net, a citizen's networking group for containment of unlawful moves of the Tokyo Metropolitan Education Board held a rally on July 24 at Bunkyo Kumin Center, Tokyo, with some 160 participants. The rally was to denounce two unjust rulings regarding coercion of the controversial national anthem Kimigayo at schools that were accounced by the supreme court in June and July this year and to aim at repealing of the recently-enacted ordinance of Osaka Prefecture that demands teachers of prefectural schools to stand up during the performance of Kimigayo. Since the enactment of the ordinace on June 3, the Hinomaru flags have been put up all the time at prefectural schools in Osaka. The Osaka Governor Toru Hashimoto is eager to realize another coercive ordinance during the September session of Prefectural Assembly that allow the education board to dismiss teachers who disobeyed the standing-up ordinance for three times. "Hashimoto says that education is 20 thousand percent of coertion. He doesn't only impose Hinomaru and Kimigayo on perfectural schools but even aims for establishing a scheme of public education under which elected politicians decide policies and substances and schools are just to manage the implementation. Such a scheme will enable politicians to freely intervene into public education", says Hiroyuki Imae of the Hot-line against Coercion of Hinomaru and Kimigayo. (Yumi Sasaki) Photo: Mr. Hiroyuki Imae Video Clip: Press conference by protesters on July 19

「教育は2万パーセント強制」～橋下府知事の狙いは政治の教育支配

7月24日、都教委包囲ネット7・24集会が東京・文京区民センターで開催され、160人が集まった。6月7月に連続して出された最高裁の「君が代」不当判決糾弾と、6月3日に成立した大阪府の「君が代」強制条例撤廃が集会のテーマだ。大阪では条例成立後、すべての府立学校で「日の丸」の常時掲揚が行われ始めた。また、9月府議会では「3回不起立で免職」という「職員処分条例」の成立も目論まれている。「日の丸・君が代」強制反対ホットラインの井前弘幸さん（写真）は、「橋下知事は、教育は2万パーセント強制だと言っている。彼のねらいは、『日の丸・君が代』の押しつけにとどまらず、教育の方針・中身は政治が決定し、現場はそのマネジメントをするだけという状態にもっていくこと。政治が教育に自由に介入できる体制作りを目指している」と語った。（佐々木有美） ・起立条例反対の7/19記者会見（動画）

"Training" To Punish Teachers Who Refused To Stand Up along Kimigayo: a Hundred Supporters Protested

The Tokyo Metropolitan Education Board held on July 21 a "training" to prevent recurrence of disobedience to its notice of 2003 that demanded upstanding while the national anthemn is played during ceremonies at prefectural schools. Three out of seven teachers who refused to stand up while Kimigayo was played during the graduation or the entrance ceremonies attended the "training". The other four resigned by the time of "training." Approximately 100 people gathered in front the training center of the TMEB, the venue of the "training," to protest to it and support the punished teachers. A group of lawyers attempted to submit a letter to the TMEB that denounces the notice, but the TMEB refused to receive it without giving reasons. In the past, they received similar letters for six times. It is suspected that their move this time was inspired by the supreme court's rulings of June and July that concluded the TMEB's notice was constitutional. One of the teachers who did not stand along with Kimigayo during the entrance ceremony said after the "training" that s/he had always refused to stand up, but was never condemned before. "I am not ashamed," said s/he. "Though the TMEB tried to discipline me on charge of negligence on duty, there is no reason why I should be reproached." (Hidekiyo Watabe)

「君が代不起立」教員3名にイジメ研修～約100人が抗議に駆けつける

7月21日、都教委による再発防止研修が行われました。対象となったのは、今春の卒・入学式での「君が代」不起立者7名中、退職者を除く3名です。研修抗議・該当者支援行動には、約100名が集まり、盛り上がりました（写真）。しかし、今回都教委は、研修センター前での弁護団の申し入れを一方的に拒否しました。理由を聞いても答えず、申し入れ書も受け取らない、という姿勢をとりました。これまで、7回にわたり行われてきたことを突然拒否してきたのです。「最高裁判決でお墨付きをもらったから問答無用」というのでしょうか。研修後、入学式で「不起立」したTさんは「今回はじめての現認（これまでは見過ごされていた）で、処分と研修となった。服務事故というが、不起立は恥ずべきものではないと思っている。非難されるいわれはない」と語りました。（渡部秀清）

Resistance never dies! Despite unlawful punishment for “Refusal for standing up during Kimigayo playing”

TANAKA Satoshi, a teacher at Akiruno Gakuen school for the disabled, refused to stand up while Kimigayo, Japan’s controversial national anthem, was being played at its entrance ceremony in April 2011 for his belief. The Tokyo Metropolitan Education Board forcibly reprimanded Mr. Tanaka, 41, on May 26 at its regular meeting. About 20 people demanded the board not to punish him in front of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building (photo). NEZU Kimiko, who was teaching at the same school before retirement and also refused to stand up during Kimigayo playing, said, “Simply asking children to follow a command without teaching the meaning of the anthem is to rob their thinking skills. One of the reasons of the recent nuclear disaster in Fukushima is that everyone ‘does not think or doubt’ at all, and has been deceived by the ‘myth of nuclear safety’”. People who participated in the session of the education board demanded the board members, “Stop punishing” and “Shame on you”. Mr. Tanaka’s refusal to stand up during Kimigayo playing was beyond expectation for the education board and showed that resistance never dies. (M)


抵抗の灯は消えない！～「君が代不起立」田中聡史さんに不当処分
4月の入学式で根津公子さんと同じ職場の「あきる野学園」教諭の田中聡史さん（41歳）は、自らの信条に従い「君が代不起立」をしたが、5月26日、東京都教育委員会は定例会で田中さんの処分（戒告）を強行した。この日は朝から支援の仲間約20人が都庁前でチラシを撒き、処分をしないように訴えた（写真）。根津さんはマイクを握り「歌の意味も教えないでただ従えということは、子どもから考える力を奪うこと。今回の原発事故も“考えない・疑問をもたない”大人ばかりになったことが遠因で、多くの人が“原発安全神話”に乗せられた。君が代問題と原発問題はつながっている」と訴えた。都教委を傍聴した人たちは職員が制止する中、大きな声で「処分をやめろ」「都教委は恥を知れ」と教育委員にぶつけるように叫んだ。田中さんの不起立は都教委としては予想外の出来事で、抵抗の灯が消えていないことを強く示すことになった。（M）