http://www.crucialminutiae.com/education-pays-well it's the little things... Sat, 20 Feb 2010 13:43:45 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://www.crucialminutiae.com/education-pays-well/comment-page-1#comment-24487 Joie Jager-Hyman Mon, 05 May 2008 20:28:04 +0000 http://www.crucialminutiae.com/?p=930#comment-24487 Thanks for your comment, Kallie. As you note, I do address some of the cultural differences between the U.S. and Japan, though I agree that I don't cover everything. I am sure many talented students would like individual attention in both America and Japan. However, we live in a world of fixed resources and I think it is useful to take lessons from other counties/cultures. The video that I describe was presented to me as an example of "good teaching" in Japan and I tied it to an article that talked about a new school that seeks to promote "good teaching" in the U.S. One of the ways they do this is with higher salaries. Thanks for your comment, Kallie. As you note, I do address some of the cultural differences between the U.S. and Japan, though I agree that I don’t cover everything. I am sure many talented students would like individual attention in both America and Japan. However, we live in a world of fixed resources and I think it is useful to take lessons from other counties/cultures. The video that I describe was presented to me as an example of “good teaching” in Japan and I tied it to an article that talked about a new school that seeks to promote “good teaching” in the U.S. One of the ways they do this is with higher salaries.

]]> http://www.crucialminutiae.com/education-pays-well/comment-page-1#comment-24361 Kallie Thu, 01 May 2008 04:42:06 +0000 http://www.crucialminutiae.com/?p=930#comment-24361 Have you considered at all the vast cultural differences that exist between the United States and Japan? You're really handwaving over an enormous issue and then somehow linking it to higher teacher salaries. What is interesting is that you consider that the way to increase the respect for teachers in the United States is by increasing their salaries, whereas in Japan teachers are respected for their position in society, a clear cultural difference. And yet you roll right over the issues of conformity, social harmony, group respect and fierce academic competition which are basic to Japanese culture and may have something to do with the fact that those 40 students were prepared and willing to learn in such a setting. I think you might find many talented American students who would like more individual attention to their specific interests and goals in a less competitive atmosphere. Have you considered at all the vast cultural differences that exist between the United States and Japan? You’re really handwaving over an enormous issue and then somehow linking it to higher teacher salaries. What is interesting is that you consider that the way to increase the respect for teachers in the United States is by increasing their salaries, whereas in Japan teachers are respected for their position in society, a clear cultural difference. And yet you roll right over the issues of conformity, social harmony, group respect and fierce academic competition which are basic to Japanese culture and may have something to do with the fact that those 40 students were prepared and willing to learn in such a setting. I think you might find many talented American students who would like more individual attention to their specific interests and goals in a less competitive atmosphere.

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