Home, Family, and Pre-Elementary Ed

Home, Family, and Pre-Elementary Education
Japanese families are stable. Divorce rates have increased since the 1960's, but remain relatively low. In 1980 the number of divorces was 1.2 per thousand people, while the comparable figure for the United States was 5.2 per thousand. [1] Just 6 percent of all Japanese families are headed by a single parent. [2]

Roughly half of all households in Japan are made up of a two-parent family and children. This typical family unit is smaller and more urban than that of a generation or two ago. More than half the population now lives in large urban areas, and only one family in six includes three generations. [3]

Most homes, apartments, and condominiums are smaller than their American counterparts because of the high cost of urban land. For the most part, residences are comparably modern and are filled with common consumer products. Most Japanese children grow up taking television and the latest toys and gadgets for granted.

There is a strong consensus regarding roles and the appropriate division of labor within the family. A man's primary focus is the workplace, which often includes extensive work related socializing with male colleagues during the evening hours. In contrast, a woman's primary focus is her home and family, with particular attention to the rearing of children. The family-centered role of women is reinforced by their relative lack of long-term career opportunities outside the home.

While most Japanese subscribe to the view that a woman's place is in the home and that work should not interfere with her primary responsibilities to children and husband, women nevertheless make up almost 40 percent of the labor force. More than half of these women are married. [4] Many mothers with small children work only part-time so they can be at home when their children are not in school. The extra income generated by mothers working outside of the home is often used to help meet the cost of their children's education. [5]

Spouses generally agree about their respective parental roles and share a belief that the children are at the center of their marriage. Thus, the education of children becomes one of the most important family functions.

In earlier times, Japanese fathers were regarded as severe and as having great authority. Indeed, there is an old Japanese saying that there are four things to be feared in life--earthquakes, thunder, fire, and fathers. Mothers may indicate to children that father will discipline them if they do not behave, but it appears that the father's authority in childrearing has decreased over the past generation.

In many white collar families, the father is a proverbial "guest" in his own house, returning home most evenings after the children have gone to bed. Although fathers provide children with certain role models and many take an active interest in education matters, the task of attending to the child's upbringing and education is usually left to the mother. Mothers take that responsibility seriously. Research indicates that Japanese mothers place the subject of childrearing at the top of their worry list. [6]

Mothers and their children are especially close. Japanese mothers seldom confront their preschool children. Rather, they attempt to appease the child and foster an intimate, dependent relationship. The purpose of this approach is to get the child to comply willingly with the mother's wishes and to shape behavior gradually over the long term. Another goal of early training is to instill in the child a deep sense of responsibility to the mother and family. This becomes an important factor in developing motivation for school achievement in Japan.

The Japanese believe that the home should be a relaxed place where children are free of constricting requirements for emotional control and good behavior expected in formal social situations. Early childhood training includes attention to manners and proper social behavior required outside of the home, but there is little actual exposure to group situations beyond the family until the preschool experience.

Much of a mother's sense of personal accomplishment is tied to the educational achievements of her children, and she expends great effort helping them. In addition, there is considerable peer pressure on the mother. The community's perception of a woman's success as a mother depends in large part on how well her children do in school.

Some Japanese mothers have gained a reputation for extraordinary concern and involvement with their children's education. Stories about overzealous mothers abound. In part, this phenomenon may stem from the sharply defined role distinction between spouses. Indeed, some Japanese note that fathers should shoulder a fair share of the blame for these maternal excesses, since the father's typical preoccupation with matters outside the home forces the mother to bear near total responsibility for managing the education of the children. [7]

Formal pre-elementary education

The initial transition from indulgence at home to the institutional demands of formal education constitutes a radical change in environment for the Japanese child. The difficulties are resolved for most children through some form of preschool experience, wherein the child is socialized in the ways of a group. The transition from the more or less self-centered focus of home life to the shared needs and group responsibilities of school life occurs through the socially oriented preschool experience. [8]

Japanese parents are strongly committed to early education, though pre-elementary education in Japan is not a part of compulsory education nor is it linked, like American kindergartens, to the formal school structure. Virtually all Japanese pre-elementary education takes place in one of two types of institutions: preschools and daycare centers. Preschools (yochien, often translated as "kindergartens"), which operate under Monbusho supervision, enroll children primarily between ages 3 and 5. They are in session approximately 5 hours per day. Daycare centers (hoikuen, sometimes translated as "nursery schools"), established by the Ministry of Welfare, are primarily for the children of working mothers. They accept children from infancy through age 5 and are in session 8 hours per day. In most other respects the two types of institutions are similar in physical facilities, curricula, teaching styles, and classroom activities.

A very high percentage of Japanese children are enrolled in pre-elementary education. Forty percent of all 3-year-olds and 92 percent of all 4- and 5-year-olds attend either preschools or daycare centers table 7. Japanese parents rarely withdraw their children once they are enrolled.

Both types of pre-elementary institutions require tuition. In the case of daycare centers, parents are assessed charges in accordance with their income. In addition to income from tuition, pre-elementary institutions receive subsidies from all three levels of government in varying amounts.

Teachers and school environment

Japanese preschools are staffed by licensed professional teachers. Virtually all are women under the age of 25 who have graduated from a junior college. Their preparation includes training in teaching as well as in relevant subject areas. The former includes such topics as principles of education, child psychology, and practice teaching, and the latter such things as music, physical education, and the arts. Although serious and enthusiastic about their work, many women leave preschool teaching after marriage in order to raise children of their own.

During most of the day, Japanese preschools and daycare centers are relaxed, boisterous places. Parents and teachers prize high spirits in their preschool children, and the yard and building usually resound with enthusiastic voices and great activity.

Preschool classes are large by American standards, averaging 30 students (and just one teacher) per class. [9] This large class size is preferred by many Japanese teachers who believe that it gives children an opportunity to learn to interact in a group and generates more enthusiasm for the activities. Teachers refrain from overt direction of group activities, preferring to encourage the class to learn to function as a group. [10]

Teacher strategies for gaining compliance from the child and for inducing proper behavior have considerable similarity to maternal strategies and techniques. That is, they emphasize persuading the child to understand and comply willingly with demands for particular behavior rather than forcing the child to obey.

Teachers do not rush to intervene or correct occasional misbehavior. They encourage other students to become involved in solving problems. [11] Working through the group to resolve individual behavioral difficulties is believed to be an important part of the social curriculum, even at this early stage.

Curriculum

The curriculum of preschool is largely nonacademic. Interaction with other children is stressed over interaction with materials. Cooperative activities, games, freeplay, and chores form a substantial part of each day. Children are encouraged to accommodate themselves to the activities others around them. Great emphasis is placed on social development and training in proper habits and attitudes.

Instruction in letters and numbers and other prereading skills is absent from the formal curriculum guidelines set forth by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Welfare. These guidelines contain six content areas to be emphasized in classroom activities: health, social life, nature, language, music and crafts. [12] Most preschools and daycare centers follow these guidelines.

While explicit teaching of reading and writing skills is uncommon , children are encouraged to speak and comprehend language by becoming familiar with illustrated stories and picture books. Self-expression and the correct use of spoken language are emphasized.

In m

Kết quả (Việt) 1:

Gia đình và giáo dục tiểu học trướcGia đình Nhật bản được ổn định. Tỷ lệ ly hôn đã tăng lên kể từ 1960, nhưng vẫn còn tương đối thấp. Vào năm 1980 số ly hôn là 1,2 trên nghìn người, trong khi con số tương đương cho Hoa Kỳ là 5,2 cho mỗi nghìn. [1] chỉ có 6 phần trăm của tất cả các gia đình Nhật bản được đứng đầu bởi một phụ huynh đơn. [2]Khoảng một nửa của tất cả các hộ gia đình ở Nhật bản được tạo thành từ một gia đình hai cha mẹ và trẻ em. Đơn vị gia đình điển hình này là nhỏ hơn và nhiều đô thị hơn của thế hệ một hoặc hai trước. Hơn một nửa dân số bây giờ sống ở khu vực đô thị lớn, và các gia đình chỉ có một trong 6 bao gồm ba thế hệ. [3]Hầu hết các ngôi nhà, căn hộ và chung cư cao tầng nhỏ hơn đối tác Mỹ của họ bởi vì chi phí cao của đất đô thị. Hầu hết các phần, cư trú comparably hiện đại và được làm đầy với sản phẩm tiêu dùng thông thường. Hầu hết trẻ em Nhật bản lớn lên tham gia truyền hình và đồ chơi mới nhất và tiện ích cho được cấp.Đó là một sự đồng thuận mạnh mẽ về vai trò và bộ phận thích hợp của lao động trong gia đình. Một người đàn ông tập trung chủ yếu là nơi làm việc, thường bao gồm mở rộng công việc liên quan xã hội hoá với đồng nghiệp Nam trong giờ buổi tối. Ngược lại, tập trung chủ yếu của một người phụ nữ là trang chủ và gia đình, với sự chú ý đặc biệt đến việc nuôi dạy trẻ em của cô. Trung tâm gia đình vai trò của phụ nữ được gia cố bởi sự thiếu tương đối của họ cơ hội nghề nghiệp lâu dài bên ngoài nhà.While most Japanese subscribe to the view that a woman's place is in the home and that work should not interfere with her primary responsibilities to children and husband, women nevertheless make up almost 40 percent of the labor force. More than half of these women are married. [4] Many mothers with small children work only part-time so they can be at home when their children are not in school. The extra income generated by mothers working outside of the home is often used to help meet the cost of their children's education. [5]Spouses generally agree about their respective parental roles and share a belief that the children are at the center of their marriage. Thus, the education of children becomes one of the most important family functions.In earlier times, Japanese fathers were regarded as severe and as having great authority. Indeed, there is an old Japanese saying that there are four things to be feared in life--earthquakes, thunder, fire, and fathers. Mothers may indicate to children that father will discipline them if they do not behave, but it appears that the father's authority in childrearing has decreased over the past generation.In many white collar families, the father is a proverbial "guest" in his own house, returning home most evenings after the children have gone to bed. Although fathers provide children with certain role models and many take an active interest in education matters, the task of attending to the child's upbringing and education is usually left to the mother. Mothers take that responsibility seriously. Research indicates that Japanese mothers place the subject of childrearing at the top of their worry list. [6]Mothers and their children are especially close. Japanese mothers seldom confront their preschool children. Rather, they attempt to appease the child and foster an intimate, dependent relationship. The purpose of this approach is to get the child to comply willingly with the mother's wishes and to shape behavior gradually over the long term. Another goal of early training is to instill in the child a deep sense of responsibility to the mother and family. This becomes an important factor in developing motivation for school achievement in Japan.The Japanese believe that the home should be a relaxed place where children are free of constricting requirements for emotional control and good behavior expected in formal social situations. Early childhood training includes attention to manners and proper social behavior required outside of the home, but there is little actual exposure to group situations beyond the family until the preschool experience.Much of a mother's sense of personal accomplishment is tied to the educational achievements of her children, and she expends great effort helping them. In addition, there is considerable peer pressure on the mother. The community's perception of a woman's success as a mother depends in large part on how well her children do in school.Some Japanese mothers have gained a reputation for extraordinary concern and involvement with their children's education. Stories about overzealous mothers abound. In part, this phenomenon may stem from the sharply defined role distinction between spouses. Indeed, some Japanese note that fathers should shoulder a fair share of the blame for these maternal excesses, since the father's typical preoccupation with matters outside the home forces the mother to bear near total responsibility for managing the education of the children. [7]Formal pre-elementary educationThe initial transition from indulgence at home to the institutional demands of formal education constitutes a radical change in environment for the Japanese child. The difficulties are resolved for most children through some form of preschool experience, wherein the child is socialized in the ways of a group. The transition from the more or less self-centered focus of home life to the shared needs and group responsibilities of school life occurs through the socially oriented preschool experience. [8]Japanese parents are strongly committed to early education, though pre-elementary education in Japan is not a part of compulsory education nor is it linked, like American kindergartens, to the formal school structure. Virtually all Japanese pre-elementary education takes place in one of two types of institutions: preschools and daycare centers. Preschools (yochien, often translated as "kindergartens"), which operate under Monbusho supervision, enroll children primarily between ages 3 and 5. They are in session approximately 5 hours per day. Daycare centers (hoikuen, sometimes translated as "nursery schools"), established by the Ministry of Welfare, are primarily for the children of working mothers. They accept children from infancy through age 5 and are in session 8 hours per day. In most other respects the two types of institutions are similar in physical facilities, curricula, teaching styles, and classroom activities.A very high percentage of Japanese children are enrolled in pre-elementary education. Forty percent of all 3-year-olds and 92 percent of all 4- and 5-year-olds attend either preschools or daycare centers table 7. Japanese parents rarely withdraw their children once they are enrolled.Both types of pre-elementary institutions require tuition. In the case of daycare centers, parents are assessed charges in accordance with their income. In addition to income from tuition, pre-elementary institutions receive subsidies from all three levels of government in varying amounts.
Teachers and school environment

Japanese preschools are staffed by licensed professional teachers. Virtually all are women under the age of 25 who have graduated from a junior college. Their preparation includes training in teaching as well as in relevant subject areas. The former includes such topics as principles of education, child psychology, and practice teaching, and the latter such things as music, physical education, and the arts. Although serious and enthusiastic about their work, many women leave preschool teaching after marriage in order to raise children of their own.

During most of the day, Japanese preschools and daycare centers are relaxed, boisterous places. Parents and teachers prize high spirits in their preschool children, and the yard and building usually resound with enthusiastic voices and great activity.

Preschool classes are large by American standards, averaging 30 students (and just one teacher) per class. [9] This large class size is preferred by many Japanese teachers who believe that it gives children an opportunity to learn to interact in a group and generates more enthusiasm for the activities. Teachers refrain from overt direction of group activities, preferring to encourage the class to learn to function as a group. [10]

Teacher strategies for gaining compliance from the child and for inducing proper behavior have considerable similarity to maternal strategies and techniques. That is, they emphasize persuading the child to understand and comply willingly with demands for particular behavior rather than forcing the child to obey.

Teachers do not rush to intervene or correct occasional misbehavior. They encourage other students to become involved in solving problems. [11] Working through the group to resolve individual behavioral difficulties is believed to be an important part of the social curriculum, even at this early stage.

Curriculum

The curriculum of preschool is largely nonacademic. Interaction with other children is stressed over interaction with materials. Cooperative activities, games, freeplay, and chores form a substantial part of each day. Children are encouraged to accommodate themselves to the activities others around them. Great emphasis is placed on social development and training in proper habits and attitudes.

Instruction in letters and numbers and other prereading skills is absent from the formal curriculum guidelines set forth by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Welfare. These guidelines contain six content areas to be emphasized in classroom activities: health, social life, nature, language, music and crafts. [12] Most preschools and daycare centers follow these guidelines.

While explicit teaching of reading and writing skills is uncommon , children are encouraged to speak and comprehend language by becoming familiar with illustrated stories and picture books. Self-expression and the correct use of spoken language are emphasized.

In m