Education: US. V. Japan

From Richard Lynn (1988)

I. International Comparisons: U.S Children lag behind, Japanese children excel science/math

A. Illinois-Japan study Math (Walberg, Harnisch, Tsai 1984)

(i) avg. Japanese better than 98% of American students!

II. Japanese Educational System

A. Primary Schools: in local area much like U.S.

B. Curriculum differences! Ethics, music, central ministry.

C. JR High

D. Examination Hell! 14+ exams

A. To enter SR Hi: schools ranked; not all admitted

B. Juku: private school prep 14+,after school & weekend

E. SR Highs: ranked according to admits to U of Tokyo

III. Comparison of Japanese Schools with US/Europe

A. Universities: in Japan 1/3 top firms recruit from U. of Tokyo.

1. grad top Univ > crucial to career in Japan than in U.S.

B. Intelligence? Not the reason for Japanese success

C. Homework: Japanese do more

D. Incentive structure: Advantage of 14+exams? Successive

Sub-goals (Tolman 1932; Lewin 1935) ordered in causal chain

(i) disadvantage of grades, SAT

E. Order in the classroom! Am teach 2-4´time

F. Teachers remuneration educ. expenditure not more in Japan

G. Length of time devoted school work: > in Japan