NEARCHUS: Japan: Teachers & the National Anthem[ 620 ]

The Hellenic Navy (HN) (Greek: Πολεμικό Ναυτικό, Polemikó Naftikó, abbreviated ΠΝ) is the naval force of Greece, part of the Greek Armed Forces. The modern Greek navy has its roots in the naval forces of various Aegean Islands, which fought in the Greek War of Independence. During the periods of monarchy (1833–1924 and 1936–1973) it was known as the Royal Navy (Βασιλικόν Ναυτικόν, Vasilikón Naftikón, abbreviated ΒΝ).The total displacement of all the navy's vessels is approximately 150,000 tons.The motto of the Hellenic Navy is "Μέγα το της Θαλάσσης Κράτος" from Thucydides' account of Pericles' oration on the eve of the Peloponnesian War. This has been roughly translated as "Great is the country that controls the sea". The Hellenic Navy's emblem consists of an anchor in front of a crossed Christian cross and trident, with the cross symbolizing Greek Orthodoxy, and the trident symbolizing Poseidon, the god of the sea in Greek mythology. Pericles' words are written across the top of the emblem. "The navy, as it represents a necessary weapon for Greece, should only be created for war and aim to victory."...............The Hellenic Merchant Marine refers to the Merchant Marine of Greece, engaged in commerce and transportation of goods and services universally. It consists of the merchant vessels owned by Greek civilians, flying either the Greek flag or a flag of convenience. Greece is a maritime nation by tradition, as shipping is arguably the oldest form of occupation of the Greeks and a key element of Greek economic activity since the ancient times. Nowadays, Greece has the largest merchant fleet in the world, which is the second largest contributor to the national economy after tourism and forms the backbone of world shipping. The Greek fleet flies a variety of flags, however some Greek shipowners gradually return to Greece following the changes to the legislative framework governing their operations and the improvement of infrastructure.

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This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς....This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς.........

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Japan: Teachers & the National Anthem[ 620 ]

Education board vows to still monitor teachers who won't stand for national anthem

(Mainichi Japan) February 2, 2010

High school students and faculty faced Japan's flag and sang the national anthem at a graduation ceremony in Tokyo in March, as required by law. 　Tokyo Shimbun

The Kanagawa Prefectural Board of Education has decided to continue to keep a record of the names of teachers who refuse to stand up for the national anthem, it has been learned.

During a regular conference on Tuesday, education board members agreed that they will continue to have schools report the names of teachers who refuse to stand up for the national anthem during official school events, despite mounting criticism against the move.

On Jan. 20, a prefectural committee on privacy protection requested the education board to stop using the gathered information, saying the policy infringes on the freedom of thought and creed protected under a prefectural ordinance. However, education authorities countered that their instruction is within the scope of government curriculum guidelines, and that it guarantees freethinking, and maintained the policy for this year. It has also decided to retain the list of teachers it had compiled so far.

"The privacy protection committee was set up to ensure fair public administration," said citizens' group members. "It is unreasonable for the education board to ignore the opinion of the committee."

The education board, however, has also declined their request to comply with the advisory.

In October 2007, teachers filed a complaint against the policy and the privacy protection committee supported it, suggesting that the education board suspend the use of the list. A prefectural council on personal information protection also decided in January 2008 that the list was inappropriate, prompting education authorities to destroy the information it had gathered up to the spring of 2007.

However, the board started keeping the data again in 2008, based on the council's position that the final decision should be left up to the education board.

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