In this insightful collection, DeCoker and his colleagues explore the implications of a national U.S. curriculum through the study of Japanese education. The authors suggest that the U.S. educational system lacks certain organizational mechanisms that support student achievement and would facilitate teacher involvement in the educational reform process. Presenting important implications for American education, this volume features:

-- A comprehensive look at national standards in Japan, from their development at the Ministry of Education to their implementation in the classroom.

-- A highly regarded group of U.S. and Japanese scholars who provide well-written, jargon-free text appropriate for many audiences.

-- Detailed descriptions and intriguing analyses of education policy, textbooks and other curricular materials, professional development, and the relationship between the public and private sectors in Japan and the United States.

-- An epilogue by Thomas Rohlen containing his analysis of educational reform efforts in both countries, his description of the symbiotic relationship between the two educational systems, and his predictions for the future of public education as technological change and global market capitalism extend private sector initiatives beyond national borders.

This volume documents the significant changes that have occurred in Japanese schools since the collapse of that nation's economic bubble. Before the recession, Japan was the country that most others sought to emulate due to its students' performance on standardised tests. Now, however, a much different and more complicated picture of the Japanese education system emerges. This book places Japanese education in a global context, with particular attention given to how their education system is responding to changing expectations and pressures that emerge from rapid social change. Chapters written by respected scholars examine issues related to equality, academic achievement, privatisation, population diversity, societal expectations, and the influence of the media, parents, and political movements. The research in this book will provide valuable lessons for policymakers and practitioners facing similar challenges.