Japanese Education

These days, school has become a place where every youth in Japan has to travel through. Until the end of junior high school, it is mandatory going to school and taking an education. While school provides to us the essence of joy to learn, at the same time, it strangles us to the system of the society, making our minds “society-based”. As I have experienced education in different cultures, it is clear that there certainly is a radical difference between the styles of education each culture presents. The two cultures, which are Japan and the U.S., each has its merits and flaws. The importance between the group and the individual is different between Japan and the U.S.. In Japan, the group is weighed more than the individual. Many events are

This has become one of the largest goals of high school and pre-high school education. Because of this, we are “crammed” with facts. Students are passive with information, and has few opportunities to speak of his or her opinions. Discussing about problems has its pros, where it can expand the problem and be able to hear what others think. While where are less discussing in classes, students in Japan solve problems, repeatedly, numerous times. This creates the earnest character of the Japanese. While this seems to be a good thing, it also means that the Japanese is civilized and productive. James Baldwin defines the purpose of education as being at war with society[2]. However, the Japanese follow the rules strictly, not only in school, but in society as well, and are blinded by the flaws in their society that they live in. They accept the society as it is. The Japanese style of “instructive” society can also be seen from the point of age. Japanese students obey their senior, and they have authority over people in lower grades. I have heard from many students in Japan that they can’t refuse anything their senior says. This can also be said in the interaction between student and teacher. Almost no one questions what the teacher says. Most of the time, classes are silent, with only the teacher’s voice being heard. In the U.S., even there are times that students have to

The process of learning in Japan slso has flaws because of its equalization of subjects and students, killing their good points. Packing in information doesn’t help students in his or her later years, for they won’t know how to use them. Thus, my school serves some of my needs, but mostly, is “normalizing” me and doesn’t serve most of my needs. The character of Japanese education can be seen in the word “がんばれ”, which means to endure and try harder. Instead, “do your best”, is often said in the U.S. We should retain our own individuality as something that would be the axis of your mind, and education should strengthen that uniqueness of each person. Society is not perfect. We must doubt what is “right” or “wrong”, what is said to be “ubiquitious”, and we must use our own weapon, our individuality and our own sense, to fight and remodel the society we live in. We need to realize that weapon, and be ready to use it when we step our feet into society. Education should be the stone that sharpens the