Perspectives on the Japanese Educational System.

Mike makes some interesting observations about Japanese education, and manages to pull off a blog post before 8AM.

Adventures in the Not-so-Orient: Random ranting before 8am:

"Watching the news this morning, I just saw a story of a high school, whose principal, in order to ensure that good hard working students got into his school, denied entry to some examinees despite passing the entrance exam. The reasons were due to bad manners and untidy dress.

...am I wrong in wondering why the principal is being punished for trying establish standards at his school?"

Much more of the story and commentary at the link.

It's always kind of interesting, the Japanese educational system. They have, rightfully so, a well deserved reputation of educational success. At the same time, I think most folks outside Japan would be surprised to know - I was - despite their reputation, education is only compulsory through junior high school [US 9th grade.] It's also nearly impossible to fail or be held back a grade, regardless of grades or testing scores. And it's entirely possible to graduate out of junior high school without ever "passing." Attendance trumps everything. You show up, you graduate. But getting into high school and passing the entrance exams? A completely different story. Requiring OCD levels of study and test prep, plus juku/cram schools.

Positively schizophrenic.