introduction to BL school

school history, classes, rules, etc

This is some information that isn't explained fully/clearly in the game, so it makes for interesting reading! There's a bit of history, a lot of detailed info about the class levels and types, and various details of school life.

This information was originally included in materials for the first game, but additions and updates were made to the version included on the Gakuen Heaven 2 materials CD.

Information added in Gakuen Heaven 2 will be shown in a box like this one.

History of BL School

Founded in 1990. It was named after the founder's name, Suzubishi Suzukichi, as Bell Liberty School, nickname BL School. Suzubishi Suzukichi, who was also the founder of a conglomerate, established the school with the goal of "nurturing world recognized talent."

From the founding, the current researchers at the research lab affiliated with the Suzubishi Group were invited to lecture, developing an advanced education unlike a traditional school curriculum, and attracted public attention.

But the unique student selection method caused a controversy, and there were those in the education world who viewed it as a problem.

Entrance Requirements

Entrance into Bell Liberty School is permitted only for those who possess the school entrance paper issued by the Bell Liberty School Board or the director. There is no other method be admitted to the school.

Selection Method of Entrants

Every year around December, the Bell Liberty School Board selects students with special talents or superior academic ability, targeting students from the entire country, and produces a list of entrance candidates. The list numbers over one thousand people. Based on that list, the director chooses about thirty students, and based on that, the board issues entrance papers. The entrance papers are sent every year in February.

Naturally, admittance is voluntary, and it's possible to not attend Bell Liberty School. But almost all the students wish to enter. Once admitted, they first undergo a test of scholastic ability. It is a test after admittance to select the level of instruction, and students are not denied entrance based on the result.

Furthermore, even with people who were left off the list, there are cases where those who achieve an excellent result in a world tournament or are famous in a certain field were sent entrance papers. In those cases, the entrance papers are issued on the director's authority. But that is exceedingly rare, and in practice, almost all the students admitted are those who were issued their entrance papers in February.

Curriculum

The entrance ceremony is on April 1, graduation is on March 10. It uses a trimester system, with a long break during each term.

One year at Bell Liberty
(can be moved back or forth due to national holidays)
- Summer Break 7/20 - 8/31
- Winter Break 12/23 - 1/9
- Spring Break 3/20 - 4/6

Bell Liberty School uses a credit system, and graduating requires obtaining 200 credits. Students can choose the courses they take, but there are required subjects such as English and PE, and a student can't graduate if he doesn't take them.

In one week, a student can take 20 periods worth of classes (Monday, Wednesday, Friday have 4 periods, Tuesday and Thursday have 3 periods, only Saturday has 2 periods). Of those 20 periods, 12 periods are required subjects and 8 periods are reserved for elective subjects. The elective subjects cover a wide range.

Class content is divided into "basic classes" and "specialized classes."

Basic classes have three levels: regular, hard, and ultimate, which can be chosen at the beginning of each year. The number of credits obtained depends on the level, but there is also a large difference in difficulty.

Specialized classes are at a higher level than basic classes. Specialized classes can be chosen after one has obtained 12 credits in the basic class. Specialized classes are "classes for those who want to learn."

Details about basic classes and specialized classes are below.

Basic Classes

Basic classes have three levels: regular, hard, and ultimate, which can be chosen at the beginning of each year. Only, a student can't take hard and ultimate classes unless he fulfilled the criteria of either scoring highly on the scholastic ability test pre-entrance, or having high grades at the previous year's level.

The number of credits gained and the difficulty are listed below.

- Regular Class - 1 year is worth 4 credits: lecture-style class, easy tests and homework, few reports
- Hard Class - 1 year is worth 8 credits: lecture-style class, hard tests and homework, many reports
- Ultimate Class - 1 year is worth 12 credits: seminar-style class, tests are extremely difficult plus an abstract every time, and many classes require a short thesis at the end of the year

* And there is the danger that a student won't get credit if he fails a test.

Specialized Classes

Specialized classes are at a higher level than basic classes. After a student earns 12 credits in a basic class, he can choose the specialized class. These are voluntary classes, so it is possible to graduate without taking a specialized class.

Specialized classes are "classes for those who want to learn." The contents of the classes are very hands-on research and technical research oriented. Lecturers are managed by the Suzubishi Group's research lab staff and the like. The lectures held change every year depending on the lecturer and the contents of the class can vary greatly. The number of people in specialized classes varies by the class, but they range from 1 to 20 people. Incidentally, Professor Umino is also a lecturer for specialized classes.

Specialized classes are 2 credits. In short, only students with ambition take specialized classes.

Gaining Credits

Credit Example 1
Year 1 - Modern Japanese "basic class" regular (4 credits)
Year 2 - Modern Japanese "basic class" hard (8 credits)
Year 3 - Modern Japanese "specialized class" (2 credits)
= total 14 credits in Modern Japanese

Credit Example 2
Year 1 - Modern Japanese "basic class" ultimate (12 credits)
Year 2 - Modern Japanese "specialized class" (2 credits)
Year 3 - Modern Japanese "specialized class" (2 credits)
= total 16 credits in Modern Japanese

Credits are gained in the above manner.

Moreover, it's possible to gain 36 credits by taking ultimate Modern Japanese for three years in a row, but ultimate classes have a lot of homework and the content is at a high level, making it hard to get the credits, so there are hardly any students who do that.

Again, basically, since the students who are qualified for the ultimate classes are diligent, hard workers or geniuses, there aren't many of the type who would think "let's make it easier by doing the same thing every year."

Special Credits

In the case of those who gain excellent achievements in extracurricular activities (such as tennis tournaments, etc), they can be given special credits. The number of credits are assessed depending on the scale of the tournament and the particular event, but range from 10 to 25 credits.

As an example, when Taki Shunsuke got third place in the bike trial event at the world championship, he gained 20 credits.

Selection of Class Level

When the entrance papers are sent out by the school, and the person confirms their desire to enter, a scholastic ability test is administered. Depending on the result of that test, the possible class level is determined.

The level criteria are:
- Regular: has the scholastic ability of a middle school graduate (score under 75%)
- Hard: has the necessary and sufficient scholastic ability of a middle school graduate and excels (score of 75% or above)
- Ultimate: at a similar level to a high school graduate, and even more scholastic ability (score above 95%)

The record high score in the scholastic ability test is Saionji Kaoru's score of a full 1,000 points. He is, up to now, the only all ultimate class student. Number two is Niwa Tetsuya's 989 points. He got full points in everything but Japanese. In Japanese only, he is in the hard class, with 189 points.

Incidentally, the main character's score was 520 points, which is roughly the average score of all the students. His classes in his first year are all regular classes.

Moreover, since Saionji chose all ultimate for his basic classes as a first year, he is all-clear. He has finished getting all the necessary credits for graduating, apart from PE.

School Life

Basically, Bell Liberty School's tuition, school expenses, and living expenses are all free.

Living Expenses

When entering school, students are loaned ID cards, and 50,000 yen is deposited on the card per month by the school as living expenses. All payments within the school are conducted through that card. Even purchases of cafeteria meal tickets, books, and household goods are all paid with that card.

For surplus money, the balance can be carried over to the next month. Only, the ID card must be returned at graduation. Since that card can only be used within the school, during graduation season, students who are about to graduate go on final spending sprees.

Incidentally, it's possible to shop beyond the spending limit. In that case, it creates an obligation to pay it back after graduating. In the case of that person joining a company in the Suzubishi Group, it is repaid through monthly deductions from their salary.

The Dorm

The school dorm is within the school's grounds. All students must stay at this dorm. The dorm is all private rooms. All the rooms are the same size and the insides are fully furnished with a bed, desk, and a unit bath.

Other things that are inside the dorm are a dining hall, school store, large public bath, laundry, lounge, and kitchen, and students are free to use them.

Moreover, the dorm has no "supervisor." The dorm is entrusted to the self-government of the students, and mainly the dorm head manages this. The dorm head is appointed by the student council president.

The position of dorm head is usually assumed by a third year student, and the current dorm head is Shinomiya Koji, captain of the archery club. According to the dorm head, there is a difference in how strictly the dorm rules are enforced.

Large Public Bath Open Hours:	5pm - 10pm *
Lights Out (only for common areas):	11pm
Roll-Call:	from 10pm (starting with 1st years)
Meal Times:	Morning 7am - 8:30am Evening 6pm - 8:30pm

The Atmosphere at the School

The school buildings are arranged with room to spare in the middle of a spacious site. It is an environment where having lots of greenery within the school was taken into account.

School traditions are characterized by a high level of independence, and management of the school and the construction of the curriculum are left to the students.

Inside the school there is a shop with everyday items and a bookstore, with consideration taken so that there is no inconvenience in purchasing everyday items.

And, by the nature of the school, the sports facilities and library and the like are at a high standard.

Below is a summary of the current clubs at Bell Libery School.

Cultural

Clubs: chemistry, electronics, music, handicrafts, cooking, calligraphy, tea ceremony and flower arranging, go and shogi, art, literature, photography, pep squad
Associations: film studies, ESS (English Speaking Society), manga studies, astronomy, biology, broadcasting, archaeology, rakugo studies (Japanese comedic storytelling), etc.

Sports

Clubs: baseball, soccer, tennis, archery, swimming, table tennis, fencing, gymnastics, track, ski, horse-riding, golf
Associations: volleyball, kendo, judo, wandervogul (outdoor recreation), basketball, etc.

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