They say "Children are the children of the wind," but anyone can get sick or injured. Sometimes, it may be necessary to be hospitalized. One of the places that guarantees education for children during such periods is the hospital school.
A hospital school is a special support class for children with health issues or physical weaknesses established within a hospital for children who must be hospitalized due to injury or illness.
In Kurashiki City, there are two hospital schools established as follows.
- Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Ohara Memorial Kurashiki Central Medical Institution Kurashiki Central Hospital
Hospital school for Kurashiki-Higashi Elementary School and Kurashiki-Higashi Junior High School - Kawasaki Medical School Hospital
Hospital school for Shou Elementary School and Shou Junior High School in Kurashiki City
As measures against the spread of the novel coronavirus have begun to settle, Kurashiki Central Hospital has resumed interactions with volunteers and others outside the hospital, and an exhibition showcasing the efforts of the hospital school and the "voices" of those involved is being held.
What is Kurashiki Central Hospital?
Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Ohara Memorial Kurashiki Central Medical Institution Kurashiki Central Hospital (hereinafter referred to as "Kurashiki Central Hospital") is a private general hospital located about a 15-minute walk from JR Kurashiki Station.
The founder is Ohara Magosaburo, the same as the Ohara Museum of Art located in the Bikan Historical Area. Since there are no public general hospitals in the center of Kurashiki City, it serves as a civic hospital for the local community.
In addition to its function as a core hospital for acute medical care, it also has a comprehensive perinatal mother-child medical center, providing treatment not only for the citizens of Kurashiki City but also for patients from all over Okayama Prefecture and neighboring prefectures who require specialized treatment.
What is the hospital school at Kurashiki Central Hospital?
There is a hospital school established in the pediatric ward of Kurashiki Central Hospital.
The elementary school is designated as a special support class for Kurashiki-Higashi Elementary School, and the junior high school is for Kurashiki-Higashi Junior High School.
Therefore, students utilizing the special support class in the hospital go through transfer procedures to enroll in the hospital school during their stay.
Students prioritize treatment and examinations while progressing in their studies across various subjects. The content aligns with the textbooks and materials from the schools they were enrolled in before hospitalization, and junior high school students reportedly request problems from their previous schools to take regular and proficiency tests.
Additionally, as it is a special support class, there is also time for independent activities, which are unique to special support education. Kurashiki Central Hospital has named this "Time of Energy," where children gather together to engage in activities that foster friendly interactions.
Independent Activities
Each child or student aims for independence, acquiring the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and habits necessary to actively improve and overcome various difficulties based on their disabilities, thereby cultivating the foundation for harmonious physical and mental development. (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)
Hospital School Dream Tree Exhibition
The Hospital School Dream Tree Exhibition is an exhibition displaying works by students learning at the hospital school and messages from those involved with the hospital school.
It is being held at the Central Parlor on the first floor of Kurashiki Central Hospital from March 17 (Monday) to March 26 (Wednesday), 2025.
Although it is an exhibition held within the hospital, the general public is also welcome to attend. Please bring a mask for viewing as a measure against infections.
I visited the exhibition to view the works around noon on March 18 (Tuesday), and I will introduce the situation.
Works by students learning at the hospital school
At the hospital school, time is also allocated for learning practical subjects such as music and art, in addition to Japanese and mathematics.
At the "Hospital School Dream Tree Exhibition," works created not only during art and craft classes but also during "Time of Energy" (independent activities) were displayed.
Among the students enrolled in the hospital school, there are children who cannot leave the ward for long periods. One of the features of the hospital school is that it incorporates many activities that these children can experience while remaining in the hospital.
The works created by the children are all rich in expression and delicate. You can't help but be captivated by them.
Messages from those involved with the hospital school
The planning of the "Hospital School Dream Tree Exhibition" was realized with the desire for various people inside and outside Kurashiki Central Hospital to know about the existence of the hospital school, not just the teachers of the hospital school.
The tree with messages was created at Kurashiki Central Hospital.
The pink petals represent messages from children who have graduated from the hospital school and their parents, the green leaves represent messages from doctors and teachers involved with the hospital school, and the birds scattered throughout represent messages from visitors who viewed the works.
The exhibition clearly shows what kind of presence the hospital school has for graduates and their parents, and who is involved with the hospital school.
After the exhibition ends, there are plans to display it in the pediatric ward as well. They are currently collecting words of encouragement and feedback on the exhibition for the children and their parents who are working hard at the hospital school.
Interview with the person in charge at Kurashiki Central Hospital
I spoke with Miyake Yuko, the volunteer coordinator at Kurashiki Central Hospital who planned the "Hospital School Dream Tree Exhibition."
Please tell us the purpose of the "Hospital School Dream Tree Exhibition."
Miyake (no honorifics)
At our hospital, we constantly display the learning trajectory of the children in the hospital school on a bulletin board near the "Medical Information Garden" on the first floor.
Although it is a smaller bulletin board than this venue, the content has been very well received, with many visitors sending messages like "I felt energized" and "I am supporting the children of the hospital school."
Therefore, I have wanted to show the works of the children in the hospital school to more people for a long time.
The Central Parlor is a gathering place for visitors and regularly hosts events. I thought it was a suitable place to raise awareness of the existence and educational activities of the hospital school, so I planned this exhibition.
There are only two hospital schools for children with health issues or physical weaknesses in Kurashiki City, including Kurashiki Central Hospital. There are only six in Okayama Prefecture, so awareness is not high.
Additionally, since our hospital is a general hospital, people of all ages, from newborns to the elderly, come to the hospital. Therefore, even if people know about the existence of the "hospital school," some may not know what kind of educational activities are being conducted.
I hope to raise awareness of the efforts of the hospital school among more people.
Please tell us the highlights of the exhibition.
Miyake
The works created by the children in the hospital school are all wonderful, so I hope people take their time to look at each one. The children's works are selected for display by the teachers of the hospital school.
Additionally, Kurashiki Central Hospital has created a message tree that collects the voices of those involved with the hospital school.
We requested messages from children who continue to visit our hospital after graduating from the in-hospital class, as well as their parents and the medical staff and teachers involved in the in-hospital class. We have also included the professions and names of those who gave us permission, hoping that you can picture the faces of those involved in the in-hospital class.
I hope you will take the time to read each one.
You are actively accepting volunteers, aren't you?
Miyake
We want to actively provide opportunities for children who usually spend time in the hospital to interact with people outside the hospital. I believe that interacting with various people can be refreshing and deepen their learning.
Volunteer staff are involved in activities such as creating illustrated letters and reading sessions for this exhibition. During the period of measures against the spread of COVID-19, these activities were conducted online, but they cannot compare to face-to-face activities.
Currently, we are actively accepting volunteers while taking infection control measures. If you are interested, please feel free to reach out.
Among the volunteer staff, there are also graduates of the in-hospital class. They are more knowledgeable about the in-hospital class than the hospital staff and are a reliable presence who understands the feelings of the children who are hospitalized.
Please share any memorable episodes related to the event.
Miyake
Among the messages submitted to the message tree, there are parents of graduates who have lost their children. I am grateful that such parents cooperated as "parents of graduates," came to view the exhibition on the first day, and reflected on their happy memories.
Additionally, there are current high school students who have never been enrolled in the in-hospital class who viewed the works and wrote, "I want to study hard too," and the voices of the viewers are steadily gathering. It makes me happy to see various people viewing the works and writing messages, and I find myself passing by the Central Parlor more than usual (laughs).
During the exhibition period, a music event will also be held at the venue, so I hope you continue to enjoy the exhibition.
Finally, please share a message with the readers.
Miyake
Of course, I want you to appreciate the works, but I also hope this will be an opportunity for you to learn about the existence of the in-hospital class.
Please come and share your thoughts and encouragement for the children.
In Conclusion
While looking at the "Tree of Dreams," Miyake smiled and said, "I want to eat sashimi! That's a truly real voice from hospitalized patients."
Raw food is prohibited in hospital meals. It seems that this exhibition is filled with the "reality" of not only the children in the pediatric ward but also those who have experienced life in the hospital.
This is a valuable exhibition that offers a glimpse into the real state of the in-hospital class, not a world of stories or dramas. I hope many voices of encouragement reach the people involved in the in-hospital class and the children enrolled.
Articles about Kurashiki Central Hospital
Data on the In-Hospital Class Tree of Dreams Exhibition
| Name | In-Hospital Class Tree of Dreams Exhibition |
|---|---|
| Dates | March 17 (Mon) - 26 (Thu), 2025 |
| Location | 1-1 Miwa, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Participation Fee (Tax Included) | Free admission |
| Website | Kurashiki Central Hospital In-Hospital Class |
