Day 14

We visited Ofunato Middle School and Ofunato High School. In Japan, students are required to finish 9 years of school (grades 1-9). Kindergarten and high school are optional. While elementary students are not required to wear uniforms, middle school students and high school students are required to wear uniforms. However, students at all levels wear uniforms for gym classes. -The students at each of the schools we attended were excited to have visitors in their classes. They were extremely friendly and often asked for our autographs and business cards. We felt a bit like movie stars.

These middle school students are waiting for their next class to begin.

We visited an academic high school in which all of the students were preparing for college.

Students leave their shoes inside cubbies and wear sneakers with colored stripes in school.

Middle school chemistry students worked in groups to determine the liquids in their test tubes.