Teaching in elementary schools, where almost all subjects are currently handled by homeroom teachers, is about to change. Highly specialized teachers and homeroom teachers should work together to provide effective instruction.
The "subject teacher system," in which specialized teachers will teach certain subjects to fifth- and sixth-grade students at elementary schools, will begin in earnest this spring. The system will reportedly be introduced mainly for the four subjects of English, science, arithmetic and physical education.
It is envisioned that teachers will serve as homeroom teachers while instructing other classes in subjects they specialize in, and that English teachers dispatched from neighboring junior high schools will teach elementary school classes.
