shimokawasachiko 目次
Should school excursions be abolished?
POINTS： Financial Burdon / Minority / Workload / Experience / Group Behaviour / Customs
観点：財政負担 / マイノリティー / 業務量 / 経験 / グループ行動 / 習慣
修学旅行の是非が問われる背景
修学旅行（しゅうがくりょこう）は、日本の初等教育・中等教育の諸学校（特別支援学校を含む）における学校行事の一つとして、教職員の引率のもとに児童、生徒が集団で見学・研修等をするための宿泊を伴う旅行。特に「宿泊を伴うこと」「行き先がある程度遠隔地であること」で遠足や社会科見学とは区別され、「宿泊施設が野営地ではないこと」で野外活動と区別される。広義の校外学習（または校外教育）の一種。(ウィキペディアより抜粋）
ここ数年は、新型コロナウイルスの感染拡大防止のために延期となったり取りやめになるケースもありました。大多数の生徒からすると修学旅行は学校入学前から楽しみにしている行事でもありますし、中には修学旅行の目的地で高校を選ぶ生徒もいるかもしれません。
ですが、イギリスやオーストラリアでは小規模の行きたい生徒だけが参加する修学旅行はありますが、学年全体で行動する日本のような修学旅行はありません。
日本に住む私達にはあって当然の修学旅行ですが、そういった固定観念を捨て修学旅行の定義について考えた上で、必要か否か、生徒からの目線だけでなく保護者や先生の立場からも考えてみましょう。
State’s high school excursion price causes outrage among parents
賛成派：修学旅行は廃止すべきだ （245 語）
Agree Or Disagree: Should school excursions be abolished?
POINTS: Financial Burden / Minority / Workload
Introduction
In my opinion, schools should consider abolishing school excursions involving overnight stays because of the financial burden on parents, extra work on teachers and the existence of students unwilling to go.
私の意見では、保護者への財政負担、教員の業務量増加、修学旅行に参加したくない生徒の存在といった理由から、学校は宿泊を伴う修学旅行の廃止を考えるべきだと思います。
Discussion 1
Today the difference between the poor and the rich is getting more significant than ever in Japanese society, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic. Many households try hard to reduce expenses where possible, but their lives are still tight. In addition, even public schools cost much more in Japan compared to other countries. In this situation, they are most unlikely to afford school excursions.
近年、特に新型コロナ感染拡大以降、日本社会において貧困な人と裕福な人の差が今まで以上に著しくなっています。多くの家庭は可能な限り費用削減に懸命に取り組んでいますが、それでもなお生活は厳しい状態です。加えて、日本は公立校でさえ他国と比べると、費用がたくさん掛かります。こういう状況では、多くの家庭は修学旅行の費用を捻出する余裕はないでしょう。
Discussion 2
While students just enjoy themselves during school excursions, their teachers are forced to be tense to ensure the safety of the students 24/7. Prior to school trips, teachers must also make the children learn about the destinations, such as history and features. School excursions may be overwhelming for most teachers that are going to attend to them.
学生は修学旅行をただ楽しむ一方で、教員は生徒の安全を確保するため四六時中緊張を強いられます。修学旅行前にも、教員は歴史や特色など修学旅行の目的地について生徒に学習させなければなりません。引率する教員のほとんどが、修学旅行はどこから手を付けて良いかわからない程の業務量と緊張感を引き起こす原因と感じているかもしれません。
Discussion 3
Most students look forward to school excursions requiring small group activities during the trip. On the contrary, some students who are being bullied or feel pressured to hang out with the same group of people may devote themselves to thinking about how to avoid them. Such students often can’t speak out about their issues and tend to put themselves into more distressing situations. If there were school excursions, it would make their lives easier.
旅行中に班行動のある修学旅行を、たいていの学生は楽しみにしています。それとは逆に、いじめられていたり、同じグループの子たちといつも行動しなくてはいけないというプレッシャーを感じている生徒たちは、どうやったら修学旅行に行かなくて良いか絶えず考えているかもしれません。そのような生徒達は大概のケース、抱えている問題を言い出す事ができず、更に悩ましい状況に自分たちを追いつめてしまう傾向があります。もし修学旅行がなければ、ずっと楽に生きられることでしょう。
Conclusion
As outlined above, some people would definitely have advantages by abolishing school excursions involving overnight stays. Schools should take it into consideration.
前述のように、宿泊を伴う修学旅行を廃止した方が好都合な人は確実にいるでしょう。学校はそのことを考慮に入れるべきです。
賛成派：全文（音声付き）
In my opinion, schools should consider abolishing school excursions involving overnight stays because of the financial burden on parents, extra work on teachers and the existence of students unwilling to go.
Today the difference between the poor and the rich is getting more significant than ever in Japanese society, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic. Many households try hard to reduce expenses where possible, but their lives are still tight. In addition, even public schools cost much more in Japan compared to other countries. In this situation, they are most unlikely to afford school excursions.
While students just enjoy themselves during school excursions, their teachers are forced to be tense to ensure the safety of the students 24/7. Prior to school trips, teachers must also make the children learn about the destinations, such as history and features. School excursions may be overwhelming for most teachers that are going to attend to them.
Most students look forward to school excursions requiring small group activities during the trip. On the contrary, some students who are being bullied or feel pressured to hang out with the same group of people may devote themselves to thinking about how to avoid them. Such students often can’t speak out about their issues and tend to put themselves into more distressing situations. If there were school excursions, it would make their lives easier.
As outlined above, some people would definitely have advantages by abolishing school excursions involving overnight stays. Schools should take it into consideration.
反対派：修学旅行を廃止すべきでない （247 語）
Agree Or Disagree: Should school excursions be abolished?
POINTS: Experience/ Group Behaviours / Customs
Introduction
School excursions involving overnight stays have taken root in Japanese society for decades. Abolishing them might mean not only the loss of culture for many people but also the loss of opportunities for learning group behaviours and broadening knowledge for students.
修学旅行は日本社会に何十年ものあいだ根付いています。修学旅行の廃止は、多くの人にとっての文化の喪失だけでなく、学生にとっては団体行動を学び見聞を広める機会の減少にもなるかもしれません。
Discussion 1
Every student is looking forward to school excursions. In Japan, school uniforms and the destination of school excursions are remarkable drivers for some students to choose their high school. Their experiences during school excursions would be unforgettable memories for the rest of their lives. Because of that, even graduates would feel sentimental if schools decided to get rid of them.
どの学生も修学旅行を楽しみしています。学生服や修学旅行の行き先というのは、高校を決めるにあたって極めて重要な要因であると考える学生もいます。修学旅行中に経験することは生涯忘れられない思い出となることでしょう。ですから、もし修学旅行がなくなったりしたら、卒業生ですら感傷的になるでしょう。
Discussion 2
People may think school excursions are just for fun, but they have got purposes. During school excursions, students are meant to have hands-on experiences of what they learnt about the destinations in advance, which is a powerful educational strategy. As the saying goes, one picture is worth a thousand words.
修学旅行はただ楽しむためだけのものと考える人もいるかもしれませんが、実はきちんとした目的があります。修学旅行中に学生は行き先について事前学習したことを実地に体験することになります。これはとても効果的な教育方針です。諺にもあるように、百聞は一見に如かずです。
Discussion 3
During school trips, students have the time when they can follow their own itinerary in a small group. Students are divided into groups of 5 or 6 and discuss where to go and how long to spend there. The processes offer opportunities for students to learn how to work with others in harmony and time management, which are skills necessary in workplaces.
修学旅行中、学生たちには班に分かれて独自の日程に従って行動する時間が与えられています。学生たちは5-6人の班に分かれ、行き先やその場所での滞在時間などを決めます。こういった過程は、他の学生たちと調和して何かに取り組むことや時間管理について学ぶ機会を与えてくれます。これは、職場で必要なスキルでもあります。
Conclusion
Although extra expenses for school excursions may be a financial burden on some families, the advantages of school excursions weigh much more than the disadvantages. Schools, therefore, should not consider abolishing overnight stay excursions.
修学旅行の費用を負担に感じる家庭もあるかもしれませんが、そのメリットはデメリットをはるかに上回ります。ですから、学校は修学旅行廃止を考えるべきではありません。
反対派：全文(音声付き）
School excursions involving overnight stays have taken root in Japanese society for decades. Abolishing them might mean not only the loss of culture for many people but also the loss of opportunities for learning group behaviours and broadening knowledge for students.
Every student is looking forward to school excursions. In Japan, school uniforms and the destination of school excursions are remarkable drivers for some students to choose their high school. Their experiences during school excursions would be unforgettable memories for the rest of their lives. Because of that, even graduates would feel sentimental if schools decided to get rid of them.
People may think school excursions are just for fun, but they have got purposes. During school excursions, students are meant to have hands-on experiences of what they learnt about the destinations in advance, which is a powerful educational strategy. As the saying goes, one picture is worth a thousand words.
During school trips, students have the time when they can follow their own itinerary in a small group. Students are divided into groups of 5 or 6 and discuss where to go and how long to spend there. The processes offer opportunities for students to learn how to work with others in harmony and time management, which are skills necessary in workplaces.
Although extra expenses for school excursions may be a financial burden on some families, the advantages of school excursions weigh much more than the disadvantages. Schools, therefore, should not consider abolishing overnight stay excursions.
まとめ
今回は誰もが（中学生以上なら）経験したことがあると思われる修学旅行についてだったので、身近で割と考えやすかったと思います。
コロナ過の影響で、制服を購入するのではなくレンタル出来るというオプションを設け始めた高校もあります。更なる感染拡大が危惧される中、円安も加速し物価上昇中の現在、少しでも家庭の負担を軽減する方向に舵取りされても全くおかしくはありません。
こちらの記事もお薦めです。英検1級ライティング＆面接対策 22【不投票罰金制度は政治参加促進に適しているか？】
