Let’s get connected with students and young people! ～ Ouchi Hirokazu speaks at ‘Hinomaru and Kimigayo’ gathering

 It’s been 13 years since the Tokyo metropolitan government began enforcing the “Hinomaru (national flag raising) and Kimigayo (singing of the national anthem)” at public schools in Tokyo. A gathering against this enforcement was held in Suginami Ward in Tokyo on Feb. 13. The meeting, which was promoted by a Tokyo network against the board of education, drew about 100 people.

 At first, OUCHI Hirokazu, Chukyo University professor (see photo), gave a lecture titled,  “Security legislation and Education.” Ouchi, who has shined a light on abuses against part-timers and led the movement to tackle issues surrounding student loan, pointed out that it is important to think about anti-security legislation and poverty together.

 He said, “neo-liberalism have driven income gap and poverty to the worst level. About half of young people live under 3 million yen a year. The number of workers who cannot afford to live is increasing. It is necessary to criticize impoverishment as well as dismantling of constitutionalism. In short, a movement that brings power shift to the relationship between wage labor and capital is being sought.

(By SASAKI Yumi)  

「食べられない」学生・若者たちと繋がろう！～2.13「日の丸・君が代」集会で大内裕和さん
 

 東 京の公立学校で「日の丸・君が代」の強制が始まって13年がたつ。2月13日、「日の丸・君が代」強制反対！2・13総決起集会が、東京・セシオン杉並で 開かれた。主催は都教委包囲首都圏ネット。100人が集まった。冒頭、大内裕和さん（中京大学教授/写真）が「安保法制と教育」と題して講演。ブラックバ イトや、奨学金問題に光をあて、救済運動をリードしてきた大内さんは、反安保運動と貧困問題をつなげることが大切だと指摘した。「新自由主義で格差と貧困 は極限まで達している。若年層のほぼ半数は、年収300万円以下。食べられない労働者が増加している。『立憲主義』解体への批判とともに、貧困化への批判 が必要だ。つまり『賃労働と資本』の場における力関係を変える運動こそが求められている」と語った。（佐々木有美） 続き・渡部通信

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

Schools becoming the world of “Modern Times” – LaborNet TV “Special Program on Education”

On February 24, 2011, the first special program of “LaborNet TV” was broadcast for approximately 80 minutes with the title, “Too oppressive to breathe! What’s going on at schools in Tokyo now”. Teachers are nearly “suffocated” at schools in Tokyo under the governor Ishihara administration due to the coercion of the controversial “Hinomaru” Japanese national flag and “Kimigayo” national anthem, while freedom is suppressed. In the program, five teachers revealed the bare truth about what is happening at schools in Tokyo. A system to control teachers with PCs, called “Times”, is abnormal enough to astonish viewers, who said, “It’s the same as what is depicted in Charles Chaplin’s ‘Modern Times’”. Tsuchiya Tokachi, caster, angrily said, “The system named ‘Times’ is disgusting. Why is it necessary to apply private sector’s methods to the public education sector unnecessarily?” Tsujitani Hiroko, a school teacher in Osaka, introduced what the governor Hashimoto’s administration is doing in the prefecture in pursuit of the practice in Tokyo, and the teachers’ resistance to the move, and appealed, “Start with raising your voice and working in solidarity”. * Archive viewing * Photo: Teachers talking about reality of schools (Left: Katayama Kaoru, facilitator)

学校が「モダンタイムズ」に～レイバーネットTV「教育特番」
　2月24日、「レイバーネットTV」初の特番「窒息寸前！学校現場・東京なう」が、約80分にわたり放送された。石原都政下の学校は、「日の丸・君が代」強制で教員がものが言えなくなり、自由が消滅し「窒息寸前」の状態にある。番組では、5人の教員が登場し赤裸々にその実態を語った。とくに「タイムス」と呼ばれるPCによる教員管理システムの異常さに、「チャップリンの映画『モダンタイムス』と同じ」と驚きの声がギャラリーから上がった。土屋トカチキャスターは「タイムスは気持ち悪い。民間企業のやり方を教育の場でやっていいのか」と怒りのコメント。また大阪の教員・辻谷博子さんは、「東京」を後追いする橋下府政の実態と抵抗を紹介し「まず声を出すこと、つながることから始めよう」と呼びかけた。 ・アーカイブ視聴　　＊写真＝学校の実態を語る教員たち（左＝司会の片山薫さん）

Echo of voices “Yasukuni No!” in Ueno district, Tokyo ? 600 gathers in

About 600 people joined the “Light of Peace Now! Candle Action to the
Darkness of Yasukuni 2009” that was held at Over-water Open-air Music
Hall located in the Ueno Park, central Tokyo from 2 PM on August 8, 2009.
The gathering, subtitled “Watching Yasukuni from East Asia ? Concerts
and Testimonies”, was made up by testimonies, songs and dances of the
war bereaved from Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, and the participants
started a candle demonstration from 7 PM. At the Ueno Hirokoji
Intersection crowded with weekend shoppers, various rightist groups
waved hinomaru, or Japan’s national flag and yelled at the
demonstrators for obstructing the rally. The marchers who hoisted
placards appealed to passers-by, repeating their powerful chants, “Don’
t enshrine at Yasukuni without consent!” and “Don’t glorify war!”
(Reported by Y) * Photo:Participants from East Asia


上野の街に「ヤスクニNO!」の声響く～キャンドル行動に600人
　8月8日、「平和の灯を！靖国の闇へ キャンドル行動2009」が、東京・上野公園
水上音楽堂で午後2時から開かれ、約600人が参加した。「東アジアからヤスクニ
を見る～コンサート＆証言」と題した集会は、国内と韓国・台湾から駆けつけた
戦争犠牲者遺族の証言・歌・踊りで構成され、参加者は午後7時からキャンドル
デモに出発した。人波で賑わう上野広小路交差点付近には、デモ行進を妨害する
目的で集まった各種の右翼団体が、日の丸や旭日旗を振りかざし、参加者に罵声
を浴びせていた。プラカードを掲げた参加者は「ヤスクニ無断合祀反対！」「戦
争美化をやめろ！」など力強いコールを毅然と繰り返しながら、道行く人々に訴
えていた。（報道部・Ｙ）＊写真＝東アジアの参加代表たち
壱花花（噴飯もの）　・動画（UnionTube）