Japan:

Education
Edition

Mikayla Lammons, Julie

Lapierre, Ashley Richardson,
Jackie Sweet
Japans Education
1. Primary and Secondary School and Universities were introduced in 1872

2. Education is free for all school children from 1st-9th grade.

3. Preschool and Daycare starts at home with numerous books and television.
Home training is devoted to teaching manners, proper social behavior and structured play

4. The start of elementary school is very important life event is a students life.
1% of students attend Private school and it is very costly to parents to send students

Even though Education is free some students may have expenses for extra books, private
lessons or supplies ($1,314)

5. Lower Secondary School is grades 7-9

Japans Education
Upper- Secondary School- Not required but
94% enter

Public School is not free anymore & costs about

($2,142)

Private school increases again to 24% and

double the price of Public School

Special Education was mandated in 1979

Still controversy on whether students should

be mainstreamed

Mainstreamed is when a student attends the

same school that has special classes
Teacher Preparation

The economic status of Japanese teachers is comparatively high, and the

monetary rewards provide a strong incentive to pursue a teaching career.
Process to
Become a
Teacher in
Japan
Process to
Become a
Teacher in
Japan
Interesting Facts
Teaching is one of few lifetime professional career opportunities readily available
for women

Continuing professional development is required for teaching profession

Straightforward path to move up within schools

Teacher

Head teacher

Principal

Multiple salary grades based on performance and experience within these steps
$27K - 70K
Japanese Curriculum
Math and science are seen as some of the worlds most demanding subjects

Involves a large amount of discipline skills that the students are required to learn,
as well as problem solving skills. (How and why?)

Students are expected to master the concepts and disciplines they are taught
immediately, since Japan does not believe in holding their students back.

In order to be successful, students are expected to keep up with the content.

Traditional curriculum has focused around preparing students to take tests.

In the 2000s a new emphasis was made to teach students skills of self motivation,
reasoning, and independent thinking.
Elementary Curriculum
Covers Japanese language, social studies, math, science, music, arts and
crafts, homemaking, and physical education.

High emphasis on arts and physical education.

Lessons on moral education are also a big part of the elementary years, and
the big focus for whole person education.

Moral education is seen as a huge part of the daily school routine, and
demonstrated through interactions and activities.

Reading and writing are very important areas of the curriculum.

Students also learn the English alphabet in 4th grade.

Middle and High School
Middle school curriculum includes the same subjects as elementary school, but
students do receive instruction from specialist subject teachers.

The pace is very quick because teachers have to prepare students for the high
school entrance exams

High school core curriculum focuses on: Japanese language, geography and
history, math, science, PE, home economics, foreign language (English)

Admission to high school is based on the results of the test, and the competition is
very tough.

Students will attend a full school day and a cram school at night to prepare for
high school and college. Little time for personal activities.
Japanese Culture in the Classroom
Japanese Culture (cont.)
Most schools are on a three-term system with the new year starting in April. This
is significant in Japanese culture because this is when the Cherry Blossoms
bloom and signify the circle of life and new beginnings.

Collectivist society- values decisions for whole rather than individual.

Students stand up and greet teachers at beginning and end of class.

Earthquake drills- monthly

Schools serve as shelters (like March 2011).

Family members pick-up students in case living elsewhere or not safe for students to travel home
alone.

Class size 30-40 students on average.

Japanese Culture (cont.)

Transportation- walk, bicycle, public bus or train.

After an average of 6 hours of school (one of the longest school days in the world),
students have drills and other homework (including during vacations).

Most students join a club that meets after school for two hours, as well as during
vacations.
Cram schools-
Juku- Academic and non-academic, competitive to get into

Yobiku-focused on college entrance exams

Japanese Culture (cont.)
Most schools have no cafeteria, students eat in their classrooms at their desks,
and take turns serving their classmates.

Lunches are a standard menu of healthy, well-balanced meals containing all the
nutrients and calories for healthy growth of young students. They include a
variety of meats, fish, vegetables, sea plants, milk, and dessert like gelatin, ice
cream or fruit.

Teachers and students eat the same lunch (there are no choices), or may be
required to bring a lunch.
Japanese Culture (cont.)

School attire:
Elementary-many wear street attire

Middle and High school wear uniforms that are unique to each school, so are easily recognizable.

When students enter school, they must remove their shoes and put on indoor shoes.