【特集】さよなら小さな小学校「中通小学校」全校児童34人 最後の日を取材【新潟･柏崎市】スーパーJにいがた3月31日OA

Due to the declining birthrate and depopulation, 12 elementary schools in the prefecture closed this spring. One of them, Nakadori Elementary School in Kashiwazaki City, is a small school with only 34 students. We covered the final days of this elementary school, which has nurtured children together with the community. ────────────────── Students dressed in brand-new junior high school uniforms. It's the graduation ceremony for the five 6th graders. "Graduates, please enter. The graduates are entering. Please welcome them with applause." Nakadori Elementary School, located at the foot of a mountain in Kashiwazaki City, will close its doors this year. ■School Assembly "Good morning." With only 34 students, the 3rd and 4th grades and the 5th and 6th grades are combined classes. Two grades learn together. A close relationship between teachers and students is also a characteristic. Lunch and recess are all shared together. ■Student "(Q. What do you do during recess?) Dodgeball!" ■Student "(Q. Do you all like school?) We do!" ■Student "(Q. The school is closing this year, how do you feel?) Well, I'm sad." ■Student "I like hearing people's voices even when I'm in the classroom during lunchtime." Nakadori Elementary School, which opened in 1980 after the merger of three elementary schools, once had 160 students, but now only has 34. The number of children continues to decline, leading to the decision to close the school this year and merge with another elementary school. ■Kazumi Hosoyama, Head of the Education Administration Division, Kashiwazaki City Board of Education "Securing a certain number of students is necessary. For elementary schools, having three multi-grade classes, planned for multiple years, is a criterion for merger." The number of children in Kashiwazaki City has more than halved in the last 30 years. The birth rate will fall below 300 for the first time in 2025. Kashiwazaki City is proceeding with the consolidation of elementary and junior high schools. ■Kazumi Hosoyama, Head of the Education Administration Division, Kashiwazaki City Board of Education "I believe that by becoming a larger school, students will be able to interact with many more classmates than before, which will help hone their thinking and creativity." From spring, they will be commuting to their new school by school bus. They will practice getting on and off the bus under the watchful eyes of their teachers. It's not just the children who are changing. "Thank you for walking with us almost every day. We were able to go to school with peace of mind." They handed over a banner expressing their gratitude. ■Student "We're writing messages to the people who watch over us on our way to school every day." All the students wrote messages. ■16 Years of Watching Over Children: Ms. Tsujizawa (77) "I was deeply moved. (The school closing) makes me sad. Everyone in this area feels the same way. Seeing them walking around gave me energy when I was working in the fields or commuting to work." ───────────────────────────── "The graduating class is entering. Please welcome them with applause." This is the last graduating class in 46 years since the school opened. ■Graduates "I love this school building, surrounded by nature and full of flowers." ■Graduates "The bonds we formed with our friends are a treasure to us. They will never change." ■Graduates "It was a great school, full of nature, and everyone got along well. I'll miss the 1st and 2nd graders." ■Graduates "There were many difficult times, but there were so many more fun times that it was a wonderful six years." ■Parents "Surrounded by nature, and with teachers keeping a close eye on everyone, all the children are honest and very well-behaved. I felt very safe entrusting my child to this school." ───────────────────────────── "We will now begin the closing ceremony." ■Nakadori Elementary School Principal Motoharu Abe "The time has finally come to say goodbye. 'Thank You Nakadori. This is our hometown.'" This is the final school song. ■Nakadori Elementary School Principal Motoharu Abe "It's deeply moving to think this is the last time. I don't think I'll ever forget this song, so I'll keep it in my heart." From spring, you'll be moving on to the newly formed Sakuradori Elementary School through the merger. The time you spent here will lead you to your respective futures. ■Current Student (5th Grade) "I wanted to graduate here, but I hope I can make friends at Sakuradori Elementary School too. I'm looking forward to it." ■Current Student (4th Grade) "I'm looking forward to Sakuradori Elementary School, especially because there will be lots of playground equipment." ■Group Photo After the Closing Ceremony "Nakadori!" Information as of March 31st broadcast. #ElementarySchool #SchoolClosure #GraduationCeremony #Graduation #KashiwazakiCity #Niigata #UXNiigataTV21