[Mamma_mia]

Hi. DS is in year 1, and one of the year 5 mums mentioned recently that the year 5s and 6s are studying Japanese at the moment. DH is Korean, and has an intense dislike of Japan/all things Japanese - due to the very bad history between the two countries. I asked him what he would think/do if DS had to study Japanese at school, and he of course freaked out, and said he wouldn't allow it. The other reason is that DS will already be studying Korean at home/at weekend school, and we don't think it's necessary for him to study another language.

I'm just wondering if it's possible to opt out of a subject like that? I think I've heard of people doing it with religious studies, but I'm not sure if you can for other subjects. I believe the kids not doing religious studies stay in the library and read books/do homework or something?

This is not an immediate issue for us, but I'm just curious if anyone else has been in a position where they've not wanted their child to study a particular subject and have been able to opt out of it. I forgot to ask the mum if there was more than one language that could be studied - will ask her next time I see her.

I don't necessarily agree with DH that DS shouldn't be able to study Japanese, but I do understand how he feels and would support him if he objected. I'm not sure, but I think one of his distant relatives was murdered by the occupying forces when Japan occupied Korea 1910-1945. DH has only mentioned that in passing, he has never talked about it much.

ETA: Please don't come in here screaming "racist" at me. While it may appear somewhat racist on the surface, there is a lot more to it than that - like historical fact and cultural/family sensitivities on DH's side.

This post has been edited by Mamma_mia: 27/02/2013, 10:13 AM

[Chocolate Addict]

I have no idea but you might find by the time your child gets up to that level they have changed the language of choice.

At the school my son goes to it used to be Auslan I think but it is not Indonesian they learn. I am not sure why they changed it. It might even change again in a few years for all I know. lol

[PrincessPeach]

Given he is speaking another language, it certainly wouldn't hurt to ask the school.

Although most usually offer 2 choices of language, so that may get around the problem completely for you guys.

[AllegraM]

That is a tricky one OP. i am acutely aware of the bad feelings that can arise between Koreans and Japanese (mainly on the Korean side as the Japanese education system has whitewashed Japan's terrible actions as the occupiers of Korea and the Japanese can be quite oblivious to Korea's hurts).

However, I think your partner needs to be the bigger person. If he insists your son does not take Japanese due to historical atrocities (and I am aware Japan is yet to fully acknowledge them too) it simply perpetuates this kind of bad racial feeling for another generation. It is not necessary in Australia.

Good luck with it. I understand it is a tough one.

[countrymel]

Like PP said don't start stressing about it now - by the time DS is in year 5 they may have changed the language (Languages taught depend on language teachers available). You could even start being pro-active and and think about rustling up a Korean teacher who would be ready to 'jump in'!

I can understand your husband's feelings, at least you have 4 years to work out a polite way to tackle this with the school!

[tibs]

I'd worry about it when you get there - they may have changed the language to mandarin etc by the time your son is in year 5 or scrapped it altogether. But if not I'd still let him do it - knowing Korean already would be a huge advantage for him in the class as the languages are so similar (shared characters, the way the sounds are put together etc) - he'll ace it. I know where your DH is coming from though as my grandmother feels the same way as her brothers were killed by the Japanese in the war

[JKTMum]

If he feels that strongly about it, then I would suggest you start looking for another school for your son. LOTE (Language Other Than English) is part of the curriculum, unlike religious studies which is generally an optional extra at state schools. If that is the language that the school your son goes to chooses to teach, then there is not much you can do about it and I really doubt he would be allowed to just not attend those lessons.

Start hunting around for another school that either offers a choice of language (maybe between two languages) or one that does not teach Japanese and is unlikely to change to Japanese in the foreseeable future.

My kids attend Catholic schools, they are taught Japanese, but a couple of other schools in the local area teach German, French, Indonesian and Auslan.

[sparkler]

I understand OP, I do not want DS learning Japanese for reasons relating to the way some of my older relatives were treated, also because I think Mandarin or one of the European languages would be more usefull, it is something we are taking into account for middle/high school.

Perhaps when the Japanese government stops editing their school books to whitewash their treatment of the Koreans, Chinese, Comfort Women and POW I might be able to get past it but as it stands now he will not be learning Japanese.

[tibs]

If he feels that strongly about it, then I would suggest you start looking for another school for your son. LOTE (Language Other Than English) is part of the curriculum, unlike religious studies which is generally an optional extra at state schools. If that is the language that the school your son goes to chooses to teach, then there is not much you can do about it and I really doubt he would be allowed to just not attend those lessons.

How can LOTE be part of the curriculum when so many schools don't offer them at all?

[qak]

How can LOTE be part of the curriculum when so many schools don't offer them at all?

I was just wondering that too - I don't think our Catholic (primary) school offers any languages at all.
I would have thought Japanese was no longer fashionable - maybe the OP can lobby for another language?