The corporate headquarters that I traveled to, on a train, had a girls’ school, next to it.
I would often be on the train, packed with commuters, and see these tiny little girls, in their school uniforms, maybe seven or eight years old, alone, on the train.
One of the big reasons that this was possible, is because of the civil and social infrastructure of Japanese society.
This structure is one that many Americans would find stifling —for good reason, but it also means that elementary school girls can take the train, alone, to school, everyday.
You don't even have to go to Japan. In Germany, first graders go to school alone too. Same in Switzerland - sometimes even younger kids. I think that United States with the 11-12 years old is considered too young to go to school alone is the outlier.
The corporate headquarters that I traveled to, on a train, had a girls’ school, next to it.
I would often be on the train, packed with commuters, and see these tiny little girls, in their school uniforms, maybe seven or eight years old, alone, on the train.
One of the big reasons that this was possible, is because of the civil and social infrastructure of Japanese society.
This structure is one that many Americans would find stifling —for good reason, but it also means that elementary school girls can take the train, alone, to school, everyday.