Book Recommendation: "Japanese Lessons" by Gail Benjamin

If you want a good overview of how Japanese elementary education works (or at least how it's supposed to), read this. Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
Pros:
- Solid writing & easy to read
- Good overview
- Wide variety of issues covered
- Author acknowledges personal biases & attempts to provide counter-examples
Cons:
- A bit idealistic in tone
- Occasional broad generalizations can be a bit misleading
- Based on a 1980s experience (may not be as relevant today)
- Based on observation of only 1 elementary school

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[NikkeinJapan]

@yasashii89 I feel that Japan does "some" things right, but I agree that it is agonizingly slow & stubborn when it comes to change. Since it's so insistent on teaching English, it sure does a pretty lousy job in its methodology (rote learning is a dead style). But that's just my opinion. Then again, America's system is so jacked up right now. We've become so politically correct that I swear kids today are worse off than when I was growing up.

[yasashii89]

There are too many problems within the Japanese education system, its way too old fashioned. Japan among other countries should learn from Finlands example. I feel Japan is too stubborn and is falling behind, they need to change the system. Anyway that does look like an interesting book though.