Public schools are elite schools
which makes up 10% of the top among the private schools in the UK. Most of
public school students are between 13 and 18. It seems similar to the Japanese
private secondary schools. But, public schools in the UK are different from
private schools in Japan for several reasons.
Almost all public schools are
boarding schools. So, public school students are from not only throughout the
UK but also foreign countries in recent years. In Japan, although there are
over 2000 private junior and senior high schools, only about 10 private junior
and senior high schools are boarding schools.
Next, public schools have very
long history. Japanese most historic private school began in the Meiji era.
This is because of civilization and enlightenment in Meiji era which adopt western
culture and knowledge. In the UK, most schools were controlled by the church
and had specific entrance criteria until the medieval period. There was the
need for the school which unrelated birth and identification of parent. And,
the first public school was built in 1382. It was in the Muromachi period in
Japan. So, public schools in the UK are much longer historical than private
schools in Japan.
Finally, public schools adopt
prefect system. Prefect system is the system older grade students supervise
younger grade students. In public schools, teacher is not principal. Director
representatives among students become center and students strive to maintain
order of student accommodation. It is unfamiliar system in Japan.
For these reasons, public schools
in the UK are different from Japanese private schools and unique for us.
