Manga Artist Criticizes "Manga Textbook"In March 2007, several publishers were allowed to include manga in school textbooks. The move was intended to help students who are doing bad in school to learn while having fun. However, the idea of including manga in school was met with severe criticisms. Mimei Sakamoto, a manga artist for over 20 years and writes essays and manga for several Japanese magazine, recently expressed her opinion on manga textbooks:
Source: Sankei Web |
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I agree
The knee-jerk response of some against textbooks that incorporate manga is frustrating, but Sakamoto's comments are on the mark. Textbook publishers are trying to use manga as a Band-Aid, but the Japanese education system is undergoing major organ failure.
Matt Thorn
School of Manga Production
Kyoto Seika University
i never knew
I never knew that the Japanese school system was in that bad of shape. I've always thought that the school system in japan was above most other countries, with the extra hours and the competitive schools. I would actually say that the occasional little insert, more out of entertainment than knowledge, would allow problem students to be refreshed. In American texts there are occasional comics, ones that are only funny if you understand the (math) behind it, and are successful in drawing the student in a bit more. now by no means do i mean to say the entire textbook should be filled with manga, but a bit of comic relief in life every now and then is nice. Interpret this however you like.