"This book goes beyond the expected contrasts. These essays form a coherent, nuanced, subtle voice in the clamor of nay and yea saying on education and its discontents."
–Merry White, Boston University and E.O. Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies, Harvard University

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.