Stumbled upon a gem from a school rulebook for an elementary school (to which kids aged from 6-12 are enrolled) in Japan. It shall be noted the 48 bullet points are meant to be read, understood and abided by 6 years’ old kids…
<Caveat>
Based on my own elementary school experience, I am relieved to testify that most schools are not as stringent as what is excerpted below and most children (and teachers alike) couldn’t care less about ostensibly absurd rules designated by school.
===XXXXX Elementary School Rulebook 2018===
[On the Way to School]
1. Students should arrive at school between 8:15-8:20 am.
2. For safety reasons, students should walk to school with a designated group of students, not alone (If a student realizes that he/she has left something home, he/she should directly come to school without going back home).
3. Absence, late arrival, early leaving or absence from PE class should be notified via parent-teacher notebook.
4. In case of late arrival or early leaving, students should come to school/ go home with their parent.
5. Students should bring only necessary things to school (They can bring their own water flasks throughout the year, but should look after them themselves).
6. Students can bring money to school only when money is collected by school. The money should be put in a money envelope and handed to the class teacher.
7. Outdoor shoes should be taken off before going on the boards in the shoebox area. Shoes should be worn properly (without stepping on the back of the shoes).
8. In case of leaving indoor shoes home, they can be borrowed from the class teacher. The shoes borrowed should be washed and returned to the teacher.
9. Students should go into the classroom and make preparations as soon as they arrive at school.
[During Class]
10. A book to be read during the reading time should be prepared by the time it starts. The book should not be a manga or textbook.
11. Easy-to-use pencils and erasers should be prepared (Flavored ones or kneaded eraser are prohibited).
12. Five pencils, one red pencil, eraser, ruler and permanent marker should be put in a pencil case. (Colored pens can be used up to three colors depending on the grade).
13. Plastic sheet (called Shita-jiki) should be used when writing in a notebook.
14. Students should call their friends with “-San” (One of the honorifics used in Japan).
15. Designated tools should be prepared in a toolbox (Content varies depending on the grade and should be confirmed at the beginning of the new grade).
16. Students should use their own devices/ tools and should not borrow them from each other.
[PE Clas]
17. PE shirt should be tacked into the half pants.
18. Red/white reversible cap should be worn. Long hair should be tied with elastic hairband.
19. PE shirt should be worn without undershirt (in order to avoid wearing sweaty undershirt).
20. When it is cold, students can layer clothing (such as sweat shirt) until body is warmed up. Hoodie/ front-open (such as zipped) top should be avoided for safety reasons. Tights/ leggings should be taken off.
[Calligraphy/ Art/ Music Class]
21. Calligraphy tools (calligraphy brush) are to be taken home on the day when they are used and washed.
22. Pallet/brush for painting can be washed at the sink in the school.
23. Students should prepare a music bag and keep the textbook, recorder, songbook and music file in there. (Students in the third grade or above)
24. Approval should be gained from the teacher when entering into another classroom except their own one.
25. Students should walk on the right side of the corridor/ stairs in a quiet manner.
26. The whole class should walk in two lines on the right side in a quiet manner when moving to special class/ returning to the classroom.
27. Students should inform the class teacher before going to the school nurse office. One student who is asked by the teacher will accompany the sick student to the nurse office.
[Break]
28. Outside playing areas are the playground and pilotis (Students should not go behind the school lunch kitchen).
29. The pilotis is only for unicycle and stilts ride (The playground can be used for skip rope or tig).
30. When playing with a ball, students should pay attention to their surroundings (Playing around the stairs or ball kicking are not permitted).
31. Equipment used should be tidily put away in the designated place (Balls and skip ropes should be kept in the classroom. Unicycle and stilts should be kept in front of the columned school building hatchway).
32. Students should stop playing, prepare for the class and wait in a quiet manner when the bell goes off (to be seated at the time of the bell).
[Lunch]
33. Students on lunch serving duty should wear a mask, line up and get dressed (Hair should be tucked into the hat).
34. Students on lunch serving duty should walk in line in a quiet manner (walk on the left side only during the lunch time).
35. Students in charge of wiping (Paper Person) should walk after the line and immediately wipe whatever is spilt.
36. Students should be seated and wait in a quiet manner with mask and hat on when they are not in charge of serving.
37. Equipment for lunch such as dish carrying basket, food carrying container or rise container should be placed on the serving table or desk and should not be placed on the floor.
38. Lids for the containers should not be placed underneath the food carrying container when serving.
39. Leftovers should be returned to the food carrying container and the dishes should be sorted and returned (Leftovers, rice grains or soup should not be left on the dishes).
40. Rice scoop, ladle and milk carton should be returned to the designated places (They should not be left in the food carrying containers).
41. White gowns should be taken home at the end of the week and washed and returned to school at the beginning of the week.
42. Students should be seated and wait until all the students can say “Gochiso-sama” (Word said after the meal to express gratitude for the meal).
[Cleaning]
43. Wiping cloth should be washed in a bucket, not directly in the sink.
44. At the end of the cleaning, students should make sure that all the equipment is returned to the designated places before exchanging greetings.
45. Rubbish should be separated and taken to the rubbish pit in front of the new school building hatchway.
[Short Meeting before Going Home]
46. Students should leave their belongings on the desk, keep good posture and say good-bye.
47. Indoor shoes and PE kits should be taken home over the weekend, washed and brought back at the beginning of the week.
[Clubs/ Student Committee]
48. Personal belongings should be taken to the club/ committee activity places, from where students are to go home after the activities.
===UNQUOTE (End of Post)===