While the students rattled off a few of their frustrations with school, they all said they like attending school here. Indeed, the overriding message relayed by the council April 27, during its initial briefing of DoDEA in Tokyo, was that Department of Defense Dependents Schools in the Pacific are doing an exemplary job in most areas. Cited across the board for all schools were dedicated and qualified teachers, a safe school environment, high academic standards and achievement, strong support from the military command on base, and enthusiastic students. By the same token, the teams noted some areas in need of improvement. It continues to be an issue.
Educators also see transfers as a big issue.
Other findings by the teams were specific to individual schools or districts. For example, the Korea team recommended that DoDEA consider a job-shadowing program for Seoul American High School. Students there also complained about the cost of food and the lack of options available to them. The quality of food was an issue at Kubasaki High School on Okinawa. Lambe noted that DoDEA's food service contractor is the Army-Air Force Exchange Service.