This must end

Sometimes,severe problems call for big threats to resolve them. In this case, Mayor Hashimoto is wielding the biggest stick he has to bring the educational system to heel with regard to entrance exams. I don’t know any more of the story,so can’t offer any opinion on it,but when terrible things occur like this,some amount of soul searching may be required,methinks.

桜宮高入試中止改め て要請＝予算「人 質」に—高２自殺・ 橋下大阪市長

大阪市立桜宮高校２年のバスケットボー ル部主将の男子生徒（１７）が顧問の男性 教諭（４７）から体罰を受けた翌日に自 殺した問題で、橋下徹市長は１７日、同校 の体育科などの入試中止を改めて市教育委 員会に求めた。橋下市長は記者会見で、 「予算の執行権は僕（にある）」と述 べ、市教委予算の凍結を示唆。市教委は予 算を「人質」にとられた形での判断を迫ら れることになる。 「受験生に罪はない」など入試中止に反 対の声が上がっていることに対しては、「 まずは実態を解明をしないといけない。 （体罰が）許されるという意識を一度断ち 切るために、（入試を）やめることこそが 子どものためになる」と語った。 ［時事通信社］

http://jp.wsj.com/article/JJ1114319070830442355471791734 3260113407600.html

Renewed calls for halting of Sakuramiya high school entrance exam - Holding budget “hostage” –Sophomore suicide –Osaka Mayor Hashimoto

Regarding the Sakuramiya high school basketball team captain and 2 nd year male student (17) who received corporal punishment from his male teacher and adviser (47) and committed suicide the next day,mayor Tooru Hashimoto renewed his call to the city board of education to halt entrance exams for physical education and other subjects on the 17 th . Mayor Hashimoto told reporters that,“The right to enact the budget is mine,” hinting that he might freeze the city’s education budget. The Board of Education has criticized this as holding the budget “hostage.”

Against those that say that “there’s nothing wrong with screening prospective students” in opposition to halting the entrance exams,he said, “First,we must bring the situation to light. In order to end a mindset that allows (corporal punishment), specifically ending (entrance exams) will be the best for our children.”