A free trip to Japan?

1
A free trip to Japan?
Okay, so whats the catch?
2
Well, there are a few requirements...

• You have to be a first through twelve grade
  teacher or administrator
• You have to continue to teach for at least a year
• You must be willing to share your experience with
  students, colleagues, and your community
• Finally, you cant go if you dont apply!!

3
Your journey starts with a visit to the FMF
Homepage...
http//www.glocomnet.or.jp/fmf
You can apply online, or have the application
sent to you. After you apply, the waiting begins.
But, if accepted, you are in for an adventure of
a lifetime!!
4
In this show, Id like to tell a little bit about
the education system of Japan. I had many
misconceptions and was often surprised at what I
learned.
5
First, a few Facts.
We all know that Japans students rank among the
worlds top students, particularly in the Math
and Science area.
What you may not know is that education officials
are dissatisfied with the Japanese education
system and reform is currently under way.
What follows is an overview of the Japanese
education system today, reasons why they arent
satisfied, and some common problems that US
teachers can certainly relate to.
6
Ministry of Education

• Highly centralized
• Prescribes the courses of study for all
  elementary and secondary schools
• Authorizes textbooks for elementary and secondary
  schools
• Pays the total cost of textbooks for compulsory
  education, and half of the salary for public
  school teachers of compulsory education
• Organizes training courses for in-service
  teachers
• Subsidizes the cost of construction of school
  buildings
• Runs 99 state universities

Education is compulsory through 9th grade
7
Purposes

• Ensuring the quality of education and efficiency
• 100 enrollment in elementary and lower secondary
  schools
• 97 attendance in upper secondary schools
• 46 participation in higher education
• Zero illiteracy ratio
• High achievement in IEA (International
  Association for Evaluation of Educational
  Achievement)

8
Reasons why they are not satisfied...

• Japanese children have large amounts of
  knowledge, but lack an ability to learn and
  think by themselves and the ability to apply
  this knowledge
• Excessive competitions for (university) entrance
  examinations
• Existence of crammies (sometimes called Juku or
  cram schools)
• Successive incidents of school violence and
  bullying
• Kindness to others, respect of life and human
  rights are not sufficiently fostered

9
Current Problems

• Japanese children are under stress
• There is excessive competition for exams
• Underdeveloped social side and moral sense
• Delayed development of independence
• Problems concerning health and physical stamina
• Continuing decline of educational power of
  families and communities
• A period of unpredictable acute social change

10
Concerns in Common with the U.S.

• Students refusing to attend school
• Drop-outs at the upper secondary level
• Increased incidences of bullying
• Violence at school
• Violence against teachers
• Juveniles under 14 being arrested
• Poor social ethics

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So, what are their major goals...

• To Enhance Emotional Education
• To Realize the School System That Helps Children
  Develop Their Individuality and Gives Them
  Diverse Choices
• To Reorganize Schools out of Respect for
  Individual Schools Autonomy

and the plan to accomplish them?
12
Enhancing Emotional Education
Enhancement of educational strengths in the
community and home
1) Provision of information on childrens
hands-on activities 2) Expansion of opportunities
and areas for childrens activities 3)
Development of a counseling structure for
children and parents 4) Support etc. toward home
education
Schools should be places to cultivate childrens
sound minds
1) Improvement of moral education 2)
Reinforcement of counseling services 3) Strong
measures against childrens problematic behaviors
Cultivation of childrens zest for living and
actualization of school life with free scope for
childrens growth
1) Implementation of the comprehensive 5 day
school week 2) Careful selection and
reexamination of educational content 3) Study of
modalities for evaluation of learning
13
Training teachers who can deal with childrens
distress
1) Improvement of the teacher training
curriculum 2) Further improvement of the
educational personnel certification system 3)
Establishment of a system of teacher training
leave 4) Facilitation of cooperation in the
cultivation, appointment, and training of
teachers
14
To Realize the School System that Helps Children
Develop their Individuality and Gives them
Diverse Choices
Promotion of the unified lower and upper
secondary school system
Increased flexibility in entrance requirements
for universities and graduate schools
Improvement of articulation between elementary
and secondary education, and higher education,
Loosening of restrictions on school district for
public elementary and lower secondary schools
Tighter cooperation between kindergarten and day
nursery
15
To Reorganize Schools out of Respect
for Individual Schools Autonomy
Development of independent and active education
Improvement of local education administration
systems and their operation
Establishing independence and autonomy at schools
1) Realization of responsible school
operations 2) Improvement of school operation
systems 3) Reorganization of schools which
reflect the opinions of parents/ guardians
and local residents
Promotion of a liberal and lively social education
Improvement of the social education
administrative system
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So, what this all mean for us aseducators in the
United States?

• We have more in common with Japan than we might
  have previously thought.
• Every system has its share of problems
• We are doing many things right, but...
• We have a great deal to learn from each other

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In closing, my perceptions...

• Education is constantly evolving and we have a
  lot to learn
• Testing alone wont prepare our children for
  success in the world
• We need to remember that we teachchildren not
  just content - and to strive to educate the
  whole child
• Were in this together teachers, parents,
  children, and administrators -If we remember
  this, everyone will benefit.