「やれるだけの準備はしてきた」水泳授業が順次再開　何が変わった？【高知】

Swimming lessons, which were suspended following an accident in 2024 in which a boy died, are gradually being resumed. We visited the scene to see how lessons have changed to protect children's lives. "Buddy for Class 2!" "Oh! 1, 2, 3, 4, 5!" A fifth-grade swimming class was held at Hatsuzuki Elementary School in Kochi City. The children are using the buddy system, which is also incorporated into the newly created safety guidelines. "Safety first, fun" is the main theme for the 2025 school year, when classes resume. We are proceeding with lessons without forcing ourselves. "If you tense up, you won't float. Spread your arms and legs, relax, and make sure your face is out so you can breathe properly." A survey conducted before classes resumed also revealed that some children have a fear of swimming. Students who are nervous about swimming are wearing floatation devices in the water, and the water level for fifth-grade classes has been lowered 40 centimeters compared to 2024 to accommodate the shortest students. Breaks are taken every 10 to 15 minutes, and safety checks in the water are carried out thoroughly. The buddy system appears to have quickly become familiar to the children. New whiteboards have been installed poolside, and checklists have been prepared for both the lesson instructor and the supervisor. Local residents are also helping out as watchdogs in addition to the supervisors during lessons. Despite the major changes to the environment surrounding swimming lessons, the children were having fun practicing their backstroke and crawl stroke. (5th grade) "I checked with my buddy to make sure he was safe and in good health. I'm not very good at swimming, but swimming is fun." "Swimming next to me gave me a sense of security, and even though the water was cold, it was fun." (5th grade teacher) "My own life comes first, so we've implemented a buddy system, and I'm most conscious of making sure my buddy is safe and in good health. I think we've done everything we can to prepare, so I want to be able to act quickly if something happens." At Hatsuzuki Elementary School, classes have resumed for older students, and classes for middle-grade students using the large pool will resume on June 25th with the water level lowered even further.