Do you know about "hospital classes"?
Hospital classes are special support classes for children and students who must be hospitalized due to injuries or illnesses, established within hospitals for those with health issues or physical weaknesses.
In Kurashiki City, hospital classes from Kurashiki-Higashi Elementary School and Kurashiki-Higashi Junior High School are set up at Kurashiki Central Hospital, while hospital classes from Shou Elementary School and Shou Junior High School are established at Kawasaki Medical School Hospital.
This year (2024), an exhibition showcasing the learning footprints of the children in hospital classes is being held at Nishina Shoten Iroiro, located near the Bikan Historical Area in Kurashiki.
What is the "Hospital Class Friendship Artwork Exhibition Special Exhibition"?
From January 21 (Tuesday) to 26 (Sunday), 2025, the "Kurashiki Children Friendship Artwork Exhibition" was held at the Kurashiki City Art Museum.
The Kurashiki Children Friendship Artwork Exhibition is an annual exhibition aimed at expanding understanding and cooperation for special support education.
This Kurashiki Children Friendship Artwork Exhibition includes participation from all schools with special support classes and special support schools in Kurashiki City.
The "Hospital Class Friendship Artwork Exhibition Special Exhibition" (hereinafter referred to as "Hospital Class Exhibition") displays only the works of students from special support classes for those with health issues or physical weaknesses that have classrooms within hospitals.
This is the second year of the initiative, following its first occurrence in the 2023 fiscal year.
Hospital classes are positioned as special support classes of Kurashiki City’s elementary and junior high schools, but the classrooms are not within the school but in the hospital. Therefore, even among students from the same school, the existence of hospital classes is not well known.
Thus, driven by the enthusiasm of the hospital class staff to let many people, including the general public and tourists, know about the existence of hospital classes and the efforts of the students there, the hospital class exhibition was initiated.
From January 27 (Monday) to February 1 (Saturday), viewing is possible from outside the store; on February 2 (Sunday), there are times available for viewing inside the store
The hospital class exhibition is organized by the teachers in charge of the hospital classes. Therefore, on weekdays when educational activities are taking place, visitors can view the works through the glass from outside Nishina Shoten Iroiro.
Although viewing is through glass, the hospital class staff have devised ways to display the works so that they are easily visible to viewers from outside, making all the works well visible.
For those who wish to view the works inside at a leisurely pace, it is recommended to visit on February 2 (Sunday) from 10 AM to 2 PM. During this time, the glass doors in front of the store will be opened, allowing for close viewing of the works inside.
Hospitalization is tough, but hospital classes are fun!
Students entering hospital classes are often hospitalized, facing dietary restrictions, fluctuations in health, and challenging treatments. They likely endure many hardships that healthy individuals cannot imagine.
One of the exhibited works, "Everyone's Dream Tree," showcases the children's raw voices, such as "I want to eat my mother's cooking" and "I want to be discharged soon."
On the other hand, since individualized instruction is necessary for each child, hospital classes have a small number of students, which provides a sense of security as each child can be always seen by the teacher.
Additionally, hospital classes include a time for independent activities, which is unique to special support education. Kurashiki Central Hospital calls it "Time for Energy," while Kawasaki Medical School Hospital refers to it as "Time for Friendship," where children gather together to engage in activities that foster friendly interactions.
Independent activities refer to activities aimed at helping individual children or students strive for independence, cultivate the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and habits necessary to actively improve and overcome learning or life difficulties caused by disabilities, thereby laying the foundation for harmonious physical and mental development.
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
Many of the works exhibited in this exhibition were also created during "Time for Energy" or "Time for Friendship."
According to the hospital class staff, the children are managing their health and treatment in line with this activity and are spending their time in a friendly manner.
In hospital classes, children receive attentive instruction and have enjoyable activities set up for them. Many children who are discharged say, "Hospitalization was tough, but hospital classes were fun!"
Experiences that can only be had in hospital classes
Among the works in the hospital class exhibition, there are pieces created during outreach lectures from the Ohara Museum of Art and displays of mascot dolls created by patients, doctors, and staff as part of the "Happy Doll Project," which shares works on a paper museum.
Children who usually spend time in hospital rooms often find it difficult to go out. One of the characteristics of hospital classes is that they incorporate many activities that allow these children to experience things while remaining in the hospital.
One reason why many children say, "Hospitalization was tough, but hospital classes were fun!" is likely due to these experiential learning opportunities.
This year's Ohara Museum of Art outreach lecture was conducted online, connecting the hospital school at Kurashiki Central Hospital and the hospital school at Kawasaki Medical School, allowing them to see each other's situations. With only two hospital schools in Kurashiki City, the interaction with peers who are also working hard during their hospital stays must have been a great stimulus.
Additionally, the computer-printed works created at the hospital school of Kawasaki Medical School were made in collaboration with students from Kawasaki Medical School. The works are also being exhibited at the university's cultural festival, fostering interaction with the university.
Interview with Hospital School Teachers
We spoke with Nakamura Mika, the vice principal of Kurashiki-Higashi Elementary School, Suwa Mayumi from Kurashiki-Higashi Elementary School, Yamaguchi Yumiko from Kurashiki East Junior High School, and Kashitani Kyoko from Kurashiki Shou Elementary School, who were involved in the exhibition work for the hospital school art exhibition.
Can you tell us about the background of the "Hospital School Friendship Art Exhibition" project?
Nakamura (no honorifics)
Located in a shopping street that connects JR Kurashiki Station to the Bikan Historical Area, we wanted people to see the existence of the hospital school and the efforts of the children working hard there, so since last year (2023), we started the exhibition at Nishina Shoten iroiro through a fortunate connection.
Last year, many people came to see it, and we received feedback such as "I learned about the existence of the hospital school for the first time" and "I was energized by the brightness of the children's works." The recognition of the hospital school is still low, so I think it was great to create such an opportunity.
What kind of people would you like to come and see the exhibition?
Nakamura
Of course, I would like local people and tourists to stop by and enjoy the exhibition.
Additionally, I would like children who have graduated from the hospital school or those who have been discharged from the hospital to come and see it. Children who have been discharged have a hard time meeting their peers and juniors who are currently hospitalized. However, if they can see the efforts of those working hard in the hospital school through the exhibited works or reminisce about the fun memories from that time, I would be very happy.
I heard that the Ohara Museum of Art outreach lecture was conducted with both hospitals participating online.
Yamaguchi (no honorifics)
Since we can now bring digital devices like iPads into the hospital, we were able to observe each other's creative processes online. The children seemed very happy, showing their works in progress to the camera.
Suwa (no honorifics)
The "Everyone's Dream Tree" displayed on the wall is a joint work of the four hospital schools. It has become an exhibition where you can see the children's real voices.
Please send a message to the readers.
Kashitani (no honorifics)
Even if they are hospitalized due to illness or injury, the children are positively engaged in learning. Through this exhibition, I hope more people will learn about the existence of the hospital school and the children who are working hard there.
All of the children's works are bright and uplifting, so I hope you can feel their energy.
Conclusion
The Kurashiki Kids Friendship Art Exhibition, held at the Kurashiki City Art Museum until January 26, 2025, featured works from the hospital school displayed in a vertical space. At Nishina Shoten iroiro, the works are displayed in a spacious area, which gives a completely different impression.
When it comes to hospital schools, I had the impression that the children's symptoms were individually different and that they were progressing in their studies individually. However, many of the exhibited works this time are collaborative works created together with peers and works that show traces of joint activities. It is clear that the teachers are actively ensuring that hospitalized children can enjoy group activities and engage with adults outside the hospital.
For those wondering, "What is a hospital school?" or "I missed the Kurashiki Kids Friendship Art Exhibition!" there are many works that I hope will encourage people to stop and take a look.
Articles about Kurashiki City Art Museum
