August 10, 2009


This piece was recommended by my wife's long time friend Anne. A recommendation from her is worth a look by my wife and I. Her word is good, the piece is thought provoking and we thank her for it.

If you only watch the first one which is only 10 minutes long it will move you. It is very touching and I am amazed at how this teacher is teaching compassion to ten year olds. Perhaps he can help those who try to end wars. Anne


CHILDREN FULL OF LIFE

In the award-winning documentary Children Full of Life, a fourth-grade class in a primary school in Kanazawa, northwest of Tokyo, learn lessons about compassion from their homeroom teacher, Toshiro Kanamori. He instructs each to write their true inner feelings in a letter, and read it aloud in front of the class. By sharing their lives, the children begin to realize the importance of caring for their classmates.

Capturing the intimate moments of the students' laughter and tears, the film explores one teacher's approach to allowing children the opportunity to discover the value of sharing powerful emotions. Classroom discussions include difficult issues such as the death of a parent or being the victim of bullying. In this "school of life," the simple message is learning to look after one another.


Following Mr. Kanamori's class for a whole school year, the cameras were kept at the children's eye-level, giving their view of the world as they cope with troubled relationships and the loss of loved ones. Through their daily experiences, viewers see how they develop together a spirit of co-operation and compassion.

Children Full of Life was awarded the Global Television Grand Prize at this year's 25th Anniversary Banff Television Festival, the festival's highest honour. It was the first time Japan took the top prize. As well, the documentary won the Rockie Award in the Family and Youth Programs category.

Children Full of Life is directed by Noboru Kaetsu and produced by the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NH


Children Full of Life (1 of 5) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=armP8TfS9Is&feature=related <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=armP8TfS9Is&feature=related>
"In the award-winning documentary Children Full of Life, a fourth-grade class in a primary school in Kanazawa, northwest of Tokyo, learn lessons about compassion from their homeroom teacher, Toshiro Kanamori. He instructs each to write their true inner feelings in a letter, and read it aloud in front of the class. By sharing their lives, the children begin to realize the importance of caring for their classmates."


Children Full of Life (2 of 5)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc7S8HAfDzk <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc7S8HAfDzk>
"Good teachers connect theory with life..."

Children Full of Life (3 of 5)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jd7YWx7idfE <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jd7YWx7idfE>
"Project: Raft ... teamwork, self-realizations, class victories...life. You come to school to be happy. If one person is unhappy, everyone will be unhappy."

Children Full of Life (4 of 5)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEW65OKRiAk <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEW65OKRiAk>
"Academics and Life Learning....Death and empathy."


Children Full of Life (5 of 5)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FGdXEBcdh4&feature=related <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FGdXEBcdh4&feature=related>

CHILDREN FULL OF LIFE


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