Japan and Education

It is hard to say why such change occurs. Having taught in Japan, I know that the students are under tremendous amount of pressure to perform and get good grades. Their grades are directly correlated to the type of university that they will get into so a lot of parents spend their money on after school cram schools to boost their child's chance to getting in to a top university. And college is not like the United States where you get to have an undeclared major and explore; by the time you enter a university in most Asian countries, you become a specialist of a particular major. From what I've seen, the ones who do not "measure up" are usually labeled as "dishonorable" or a "disgrace" by most of the parents. I used to counsel many of these "outcast" students -- they would often complain about not liking school because it was not what they desire or they did not know what else they wanted to do. That all they do is cram, cram and cram. Some of these students expressed wanting to visit me in the United States so that they could be "free" from all the pressures and be themselves. Luckily, I've had the fortunate opportunity to host a number of my past students in the US and it was great seeing them. They had fun and relaxed for the first time. I think when you live in such a pressurized society where group pressure think is so intense and ingrained, there's a part of you that wants to explode unless there is an intervention of some sort. Most of the students who visited me went to a local college or a trade school. The ones who did not attend school, got married and had kids.

I have to say, though, I've seen different types of students over the years and what I've come to realize is how important mentoring outside of the home means to these kids! A lot of them feel so lost and want to talk to someone about this uncertainty. By validating their voice in their life, I think it empowers them to ask more questions and come up with some sort of life strategy.

It is easier said than done, of course, but it is worth it.[Edit by="seun on Jan 22, 11:03:37 PM"][/Edit]

I certainly would be one to favor more of an educational move in the direction of Japan or Korea. More time spent in school might be a good start. In Japan and Korea you don't see students going home from school at 1:00 or 2:00, or even 3:00. We tend to treat school as if it was a part time job. But I loved your statement - that "our society gives off the impression that students who can't read or write can go on to million dollar careers." I think we really need to examine this.

Tragically that dishonoring or disgracing ones family is so prevelant in the Asia culture.
That is what sets them apart, to either be super achievers or victims of a tragic suicide, as they are not able to uphold to the expectations of the family.
For a young child being raised in today's society which gives children more liberties and choices, as well as variation of opportunities for success beyond the academia, it is extremely difficult for one who is raised in a traditional environment to realize they do not have such options.