Q: Could you tell us your name and position?

A: My name is Ryo Asano. I am the vice-principal at Kesennuma Public Elementary School.

 

Q: Were you in the same position before March 11?

A: On March 11, I was working at the same school in the same position.

 

Q: Did your students or teachers have special need of mental health care?

A: This being an elementary school, over the past four and a half months, the mental health of our students has been our greatest concern. Homeroom teachers keep an eye on the children's conditions each day and look for any cause of worry. As a school, we also are also in contact with parents and checking to see if there have been any changes that they have observed. We are also working to create an environment in the schoolyard, even though temporary housing takes up a lot of space, where the children can play to help relieve their pent-up stress. We also have a counselor come to the school and work not only with the students, but also the parents to provide mental health care. 

 

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Q: What have been the challenges in carrying out regular classes since the disaster?

A: As for continuing normal school activities, having temporary housing on the school grounds has been the most difficult. The students' exercise area has been reduced and we cannot have normal activites. Also, school was suspended for ten days after the earthquake. Due to this suspension, we have fallen behind in the curriculum and recovering has been very difficult. Tomorrow is the ending ceremony for the first semester and the next day summer vacation will begin. The first semester will end without us covering all material that was supposed to be taught by the end of the semester. Not being able to teach the children all that we must, in this educational environment, is the most difficult. 

 

Q: How have students responded to the disaster?

A: There is a child in the lower grades whose immediate family survived, but lost a relative. People at her mother's work were also lost. This child does not want to leave her mother's side. Up until now, this was a child who would wander and play around the school. This morning she told her mother that she wants her to quit work. There is also a child who lost her mother to illness when she was younger. In the tsunami, the house the mother was born in was swept away. All the mother's things and reminders were lost when the house was swept away. This has caused quite a lot of psychological damage to the child. She stopped wanting to come to school, and even when she comes to school, she hardly speaks and is in poor condition. On the other hand, there has been an issue with children whose houses did not take any damage and those living in temporary shelters. These students don't understand the difficult situation the other students are in and have said inappropriate things. This is an area where we must provide guidance to the students. 

 

Q: What advice would you give to another vice-principal with regards to natural disasters?

A: The thing I struggled with the most, but I am glad I did in the end is: when we received the warning that a tsunami would occur, I didn't allow children in the school to go outside or be sent home. If by chance this type of disaster happens again, I want to take the same action. During the disaster, there were many cases where parents came to schools to retrieve their children and then lost their lives on their way home. Even if parents come to pick up their child, as a principal or vice-principal, you should stop students from being sent home.