Sixth-Grader Makes Documentary About School in Japan

sixth-grader Antone Cruz visits his mother's family in Tokyo, Japan for several weeks each year. It's not all vacation, though: He always spends about a week as a student at a local school, Komatsugawa Elementary.

Last fall, with a little encouragement from teacher Jim Bentley (also an Elk Grove Patch blogger), Cruz decided to make a documentary film comparing Foulks Ranch with Komatsugawa.

"It’s not very often a kid gets to go to school in a different country, so I decided maybe I’d get to share my experience with other kids," said Cruz.

In the film, he captures students training in PE, eating yummy-looking cafeteria ramen (which we think beats tater tots any day), and even fighting in class.

He also takes viewers for a tête-à-tête with Komatsugawa's principal, where they discuss pressing questions like, "Why do kids wear slippers instead of shoes at school?" and "Why can't students bring their own lunches?"

"I was really surprised at how important it is to the principal that the kids learn," Cruz said. "I didn't know he'd be that dedicated."

Cruz got training from the Sacramento Educational Cable Consortium, which helps bring video into local classrooms. His mother, Kaoru Cruz, helped with camerawork and a family friend with professional experience gave editing tips.

The film's best line comes at the end, when Cruz muses on the differences between education in Japan and in the United States.

"Although students study hard, they get to enjoy activities such as art, music and drama, which is a luxury we don't always get to have at U.S. public schools," Cruz concludes.

Cruz says making the film was "a lot of hard work" and he's not sure he'd want to do it again.

We're hoping he changes his mind. You may only be 11, Antone, but you've already got curiosity and chutzpah—two key traits of successful journalists.