Keep looking out of the window…

Our 10th book, “Totto Chan: The Little Girl at the Window" https://bit.ly/3e0ZbCq  is a true story told by one of Japan’s famous TV personalities, Tetsuko Kuroyanagi about her “unconventional” educational experience in Japan during World War II. 

The story begins when the main character, Totto-Chan is expelled from first school for disrupting the class and for always looking out of the window. Her mother feels that she may thrive in another environment and to brings her to a new school - Tomoe Gakuen.  The day she arrives she asks her mother what Tomoe means. 

“Tomoe is an ancient comma-shaped symbol and for his school the headmaster [Mr Kobayashi] had adopted the traditional emblem consisting of two tomoe – one black and one white -  united to form a perfect circle.  This symbolized his aim for the children : body and mind equally developed in perfect harmony”

This book is a delightful read about Totto-Chan’s time in her school . The narrative continues to the provoke debate around  ‘one-size-fits all’  teaching and learning methods that continue today.  It asks us to ask ourselves, if some “alterative” teaching methods ought to be the “mainstream”. The book is about bringing in creativity and freedom of expression in how we teach and learn.  But the book is also about shared a responsibility of teachers and leaners.  It’s about not giving up learning per se, if you are bored in way in which you are taught,  but taking the time to find the right teachers who can make you double on your strengths.  

The book is set during World War II. We are told that the school ,Tomoe Gauken, was destroyed by American bombing over Tokyo. Ms Kuroyanagi, however tell us about Mr Kobayashi standing among the ruins and asking the children to plan forward “How would you rebuild school ?”  

We hope you all had a teacher like Mr Kobayashi…

Vinati @The Script.

TOTTO-CHAN The Little Girl at the Window, was written by By Tetsuko Kuroyanagi  and translated in English by Dorothy Britton.