It has long been believed that physical and mental development occur when children take naps. This is a critical factor not only to their growth but also to their overall well-being. In line with this, the students in Kakogawa Junior High School have requested to have an afternoon nap in order to increase their attention span and concentration. This idea has been called “Kakogawa Siesta.” Let’s learn more about it!
It is recommended that people sleep at least 6 to 8 hours every day. However, if you’re a high school student in Japan, this might seem impossible with the hectic schedule and all the homework. Some people even think it is the most intriguing phase of a student’s life as you have to wake up early in order to commute to school. After several periods in class, you still have to attend school club meetings and then spend more time commuting home. You’ll be considered lucky if you sleep at 11 p.m. or 12 a.m. It may be an occasional experience for you to fall asleep in class especially when the lecture is boring.
Because of nap time’s big impact on student’s learning abilities, a student body in Kakogawa Junior High School requested the approval of an afternoon trial nap in the school. This was raised last August 2015 in a meeting with the city’s mayor which was followed by some tests. The commencement date was started on June 14 of this year and was called “Kakogawa Siesta” where the students are allowed to nap for 10 minutes (1:05 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.) Along with this, the curtains are drawn and the lights are turned off as darkness helps in sleeping. Students will have to lay their heads on their desks for a brief period of time. Teachers are also encouraged to join although nobody is forced to participate.
The conclusion of this period will take effect a few days after the trial in order to check whether the students felt any improvement after taking naps. Though its implementation in the school is still unclear and uncertain, students are advised by the school staff to support the program.
This is probably one of the best ways to improve the education system in Japan in terms of advancing students’ overall physical and mental well-beings. The quality of a student’s contribution to society greatly depends on the quality of his work which is highly affected by proper sleeping habits.