The Japanese Educational Challenge: A Commitment to Children

Merry White (Harvard PhD in Sociology; a student of Japan since the 1960s) offers an excellent introduction to various strengthes and weaknesses of the Japanese educational system. Anyone remotely interested in education issues, as well as those curious about Japan are encouraged to read this book. To round out the perspectives, read Thomas Rohlen's Japan's High Schools. White writes clearly. Her arguments are well-organized and nicely told.

I have been fascinated by Japanese culture and people for quite a while now, but it was not until I read this book that I felt I could understand what makes the Japanese tick as a society, that they produce such a form of culture, commerce, and attitude. Seeing how they are formed as chilren and the environment they live in explains what they later go on to value and create. I sense that White intended to relay as factually and accurately as possible how child-rearing is done in Japan; I don't sense that she tried to make Japan's education out to be more than it is. This is only one person's perspective, but there is enough unbiased information here to come to quite an understanding of one's own. Through her book I discovered some really wonderful concepts the Japanese have perfected, and others I view with deep skepticism, which are nonetheless revealing. Too many insights can be gleaned that I should single just one out- the whole picture she presents is what is really important, insasmuch as there are dozens of little nuggets. I laud Ms. White highly for this book- it doesn't contain everything, but what it does contain rings true.

I have been curious about the Japanese educational system ever since I began teaching in 1985, two years before this book was written. White's book contains lots of useful answers to many of the questions that Americans might have about the Japanese system. White begins by examining the differences in Japanese/American family structure and values. The family is actually the key to the whole educational process in Japan. The reader will run across many other interesting differences between the two education systems. The book is not, however, a "which system is better, theirs or ours?" study, although systems are compared and contrasted. The study shows us how and why the Japanese get the results they get. The Japanese parents, however, will be the first to tell you that the system is far from perfect. Would their system work in America? Would the adoption of Japanese methods at least improve our system? Read and decide for yourself. A very interesting study.

If you are interested in education, read Merry White's bookabout Japanese education. After reading it, I had a betterunderstanding of how present-day problems are affecting an educational system that has been so greatly influenced by its peoples' history and culture. The issues and problems are covered in great detail. The book is well written and is easily read.