I think my Middle School had a school song, but I don't remember for sure. I know we had to play a school song in band...or was that the fight song? I don't remember singing a school song at any school that I went to, ever. If you had asked us to sing that kind of song in Middle School, we wouldn't have even been able to hum the melody. That's pretty normal these days, right? Well, on the other side of the big pond here in Japan, everyone knows their school song, and can often sing it on the spot when asked to. Junior High and High School songs. I have seen people break out in song after finding out that someone they just met went to the same school! There's an informational/variety show on Thursdays called the Kenmin-show. It features the differences and interesting facts about each prefecture. They did a bit about people and their High School songs. The staff went around town...maybe in Osaka... and asked people on the street to sing their school songs. And they could! Without any ado, they burst into song. This really confirms some of my beliefs that Japan is a musical country. They are the ones who invented Karaoke.

Anyway, at my school they sing the school song almost everyday for the first term. Long enough that the first grade students can memorize it. At the same time, they're learning a pop song to sing together as a school during the school festival in September. In addition to that, each grade chooses a song to sing for the festival. On top of that, each class also sings a separate song at the festival. If that wasn't enough, the teachers also sing a song. So, for the average teacher that's five songs to learn and memorize. No one looks at the words during the festival, except the teachers during the teachers only song. Luckily, I don't have to memorize anything, and I only have to learn three songs. But since the school song doesn't change, I only have to learn two this year. I like singing, but it just seems a bit much to me. It takes up a lot of time that the kids could be using to study or just to go home early. I feel a bit sorry for the kids that don't like singing as well.