Teacher-led inquiry cycles--in which small groups of teachers study and address a promise--hold promise as a method of professional development, but only if they receive enough support. In particular, they need access to outside expertise that can help them meaningfully change instructional practices--often a difficult step for teachers working on…

Contrary to what many people assume, writes Stewart, a high-quality teacher workforce is not the simple result of some traditional cultural respect for teachers that exists in some countries. Rather, it requires deliberate policy choices. In a tour of seven countries that traditionally score high on international tests of student performance…

Japan's elementary and junior high schools have a formal, nationally mandated moral curriculum called Kokoro-no-kyoiku--education of the heart. Japanese educators include moral growth as an integral part of one's intellectual growth and believe that democratic societies must promote virtuous decision making. Moral education in Japan nurtures the…

An observer of Japanese teacher centers reports on their purpose, scope, and activities--using British and American centers as a frame of reference. (Author)

Educators and governments are paying increasing attention to international comparisons as they seek to develop effective policies to improve the performance of their education systems. Data from the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) are useful in revealing best practices across the world. Current data show that the United…

Reports on an indepth probe of the Japanese educational system by American educators. This study shows that the United States cannot expect to achieve economic growth by copying the Japanese system, which has been shaped largely by its geography and culture and society. (MD)

Describes the use research lesson-study groups for teacher professional development in Japan, including activities associated with these groups, where they are held, what they do and do not do, and how U.S. teachers can emulate research lesson study. (PKP)

A report from the National Science Foundation supports the contention that the United States lags behind the Soviet Union, Japan, and Germany in science and mathematics education. (Author)

Overviews a section in the same "Educational Leadership" issue on improving teaching productivity. Highlights Harold Stevenson's article comparing mathematics education in the U.S., China, and Japan and Bruce Joyce's summary and analysis of the research literature on effective instructional strategies. (MLH)

Research studies on educational reform show that moving from reform to quality education through centrally designed reform movements (such as clearer legislation or other strategies) is inherently limited. Reform is most likely to succeed when schools are stimulated to change and provided with appropriate assistance and when schools receive enough…