A record 3,194 teachers couldn't cope in fiscal 2003.

A record 3,194 public school teachers took sick leave nationwide in fiscal 2003 because of mental problems, accounting for almost half the 6,304 teachers who were off work, education ministry figures show.

In addition, 1,359 teachers were disciplined that year for various infractions.

The problem of mental health among teachers has been steadily rising for the past decade, according to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The 2003 figure represents a 2.7-fold increase from fiscal 1994.

The Sanraku hospital in Tokyo's Ochanomizu area said teachers accounted for 353 newly treated patients in fiscal 2003.

According to hospital officials, many of the new patients were veteran teachers in their 50s who complained they ``couldn't keep up with changes in the workplace.''

The main problem cited was ``guidance counseling'' for their students, followed by ``human relationships in the workplace.''

Kazunori Nakajima, head of the neuropsychiatric department at Sanraku hospital, suggested things could be much grimmer.

``The 3,000 or so patients represent only those teachers with such serious problems,'' he said. ``An increasing number of teachers are being treated on a short-term basis.''

Seiji Niu, a physician at the department of psychosomatic internal medicine at the Shojukai Matsuzaki Hospital in Nobeoka, Miyazaki Prefecture, offered this overview of the problem.

``More than 80 percent of the patients are coming down with reactive depression, triggered by overwork,'' Niu said. ``Many teachers are falling apart both mentally and physically from compounded symptoms of autonomic nerve imbalance.''

Niu said he was surprised at how many teachers wait until they are very sick before they seek medical attention.

``They tend to be perfectionist `all A' teachers. The other problem lies in the Japanese psyche to put the blame on weakness of character, rather than calling it a medical disorder,'' he said.

Keiko Nagayama, who is in charge of mental health care at the Japan Teachers' Union, points out: ``Teachers began taking sick leave for mental problems in droves starting around 2000. It coincides with when the government began implementing a series of educational reforms.''

The latest ministry figures also show that 155 teachers were disciplined in fiscal 2003 for committing ``indecent acts.'' A further 173 teachers were disciplined for administering ``corporal punishment.'' Both figures are record highs.

Of those caught committing indecent acts, 85 had assaulted their own students; while six had gone after graduate students. About 70 percent, or 107 teachers, were dismissed.

There were 36 more corporal punishment cases compared to the previous year. One teacher was fired and 21 were suspended for assault. Twenty-two students suffered broken bones or lesser injuries as a result of being hit. Thirty had ruptured eardrums.

In addition, 194 teachers were disciplined for not singing the ``Kimigayo'' national anthem at school graduation ceremonies. That was a 7.5-fold increase compared to the previous year.

Of the 194 figure, 179 teachers were punished by the Tokyo Board of Education. Thirteen were punished in Hiroshima Prefecture, and one each in the city of Hiroshima and Ishikawa Prefecture.(IHT/Asahi: December 15,2004)