Interview with Dr. Margaret,Elementary School Principal of CHIST

F: The background of each students are different, and the international schools are different from general school education. The student and staff body is diverse, each having different backgrounds. International Schools provide international education for “third culture kids” who live in countries apart from their birthplace. CHIST welcomes a variety of students and provides new international education.

F: We believe that inquisitive skills are the key for learning. We, the teachers of CHIST, teach the students inquisitive skills so students could ask high quality “why” questions. For an exploratory learning, we have developed an educational ICT tool, UbT(Understanding by Technology). In addition to this, a learning experience through communication, we have developed another educational ICT tool, UbC(Understanding by Communication). Through these media, students and teachers respond and share questions to further understand what they seek.

F: Indeed. Generally, Japanese people are not good at expressing their own opinions. Our education would provide inquisitive skills, which would be very beneficial to such Japanese students.

F: It can be taught at any age.

There are differences in developmental elements between 3-years-olds and 15-year-olds, but I believe that even 3-year-old children pursue answers to complex and abstract questions.

For example, 3-year-olds constantly use their inquisitive skills by asking complicated questions like “Why is the sky blue?” and also abstract questions like, “Why is that man angry?”

Regardless of their age, people are naturally made to ask very sophisticated questions.
Therefore, it is never too late, or too early, to cultivate these skills.

F: There are two key points for IB programs.
They are “inquiry” and “relevance”.
Students ask questions with trans-displinary relevance.
CHIST teachers are required to possess comprehensive knowledge and intelligence in order to deepen student’s understanding of math, history, literature, etc., since students constantly ask us, “Why do we need to learn this?” “Why is this relevant?” “What does this have to do with anything?”

There would be cases where there will be no clear answers, then teachers would tell them: “That’s a very interesting question. I don’t have all the answers, but let’s think about it together.” and we would start thinking about how to investigate them as a class.

F: We have the opportunity to create the school from ground up, which is a special opportunity. We were able to create a new and innovative curriculum of international education.
CHIST has its innovative curriculum, combining UbT and UcT, taught by wonderful teachers from around the world, and is equipped with the latest facility. Until the opening date, we plan to further deepen our connection with each other, conduct intensive teacher training programs, in order to create education that is original to us.
And in April,2018, in the new school building, we are going to create a “new” community with the students and the parents. In the center of Tokyo, Chiyoda-ku, we would create a special community together.

F: We, the CHIST faculty, would like to create a school where students would keep asking to themselves, “What sort of person do I want to be?”
A CHIST graduate is a student who is serious about creating peace and happiness in the world, and a life-long learner who keeps seeking new challenges and opportunities. They are inquisitive, principled, balanced, and knowledgeable. CHIST students will have solid English medium education, prepared to take IB test, and so will have good choices for further education. They will have good friendship. They will be competitive students. All of these components would help to make CHIST students ready to be compassionate towards the whole planet and act to make it a better place.