Learning Through the Eyes Learning Through the Eyes of Another Culture:of Another Culture:

Reflecting on Our CraftReflecting on Our Craft

Dr. Bradford L. WalkerDr. Bradford L. Walker

University of North Carolina WilmingtonUniversity of North Carolina Wilmington

I wish to express appreciation to my I wish to express appreciation to my colleagues at Osaka Kyoiku Daigaku for colleagues at Osaka Kyoiku Daigaku for sending students to our university and for sending students to our university and for hosting our students as they come to Japan.hosting our students as they come to Japan.

Their insightful assistance, wonderful Their insightful assistance, wonderful hospitality, and tireless effort have been hospitality, and tireless effort have been incredible and are the key to the success of this incredible and are the key to the success of this program.program.

Japanese College Students Visiting Japanese College Students Visiting Schools in North CarolinaSchools in North Carolina

Opportunities to learn about a different cultureOpportunities to learn about a different culture Opportunities to learn about ourselves and Opportunities to learn about ourselves and

reflect on our craftreflect on our craft

American Students Learn About American Students Learn About Different CulturesDifferent Cultures

““Our students look forward to the visit of the Our students look forward to the visit of the Japanese students. Some of them even remember Japanese students. Some of them even remember some words in Japanese.”some words in Japanese.”

““The Japanese students help us help our students The Japanese students help us help our students learn to understand and appreciate diversity.”learn to understand and appreciate diversity.”

Comments Made by Japanese Students as Comments Made by Japanese Students as they Observe our Classroomsthey Observe our Classrooms

Why is PE talk, talk, talk, talk, do?Why is PE talk, talk, talk, talk, do? American teachers seem to have too many American teachers seem to have too many

don'ts. don'ts.

Comments Made by Japanese Students as Comments Made by Japanese Students as they Observe our Classroomsthey Observe our Classrooms

Why do students go from place to place in a straight Why do students go from place to place in a straight line behind the teacher?line behind the teacher?

Why are American teachers so quick to discipline?Why are American teachers so quick to discipline?

Comments Made by Japanese Students as Comments Made by Japanese Students as they Observe our Classroomsthey Observe our Classrooms

In Japan, if you are a good teacher, you talk In Japan, if you are a good teacher, you talk less than your students.less than your students.

Comments Made by Japanese Students as Comments Made by Japanese Students as they Observe our Classroomsthey Observe our Classrooms

In America, it seems that you see your task as In America, it seems that you see your task as taming children. In Japan, we see our task as taming children. In Japan, we see our task as nurturing children.nurturing children.

Comments by American Students as Comments by American Students as They Visit Japanese SchoolsThey Visit Japanese Schools

The trip to Japan was a once-in-a-lifetime The trip to Japan was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that taught me so much about opportunity that taught me so much about myself and the kind of teacher I hope to myself and the kind of teacher I hope to become become

Comments by American Students as Comments by American Students as They Visit Japanese SchoolsThey Visit Japanese Schools

It is amazing how much more they do with music and It is amazing how much more they do with music and art in their schools.art in their schools.

““We don’t attempt to screen the use of the Internet in We don’t attempt to screen the use of the Internet in this school. We attempt to put the screen on the heart this school. We attempt to put the screen on the heart of the child so that he screens himself.”of the child so that he screens himself.”

Comments by American Students as Comments by American Students as They Visit Japanese SchoolsThey Visit Japanese Schools

I am so impressed with the Japanese teachers’ I am so impressed with the Japanese teachers’ belief in the innate goodness of children.belief in the innate goodness of children.

The biggest idea I have internalized about our The biggest idea I have internalized about our school visits in Japan was the pervading school visits in Japan was the pervading atmosphere of trust and respect I saw in all of atmosphere of trust and respect I saw in all of the schools I visited.the schools I visited.

Their teachers and elders believe in them. Their teachers and elders believe in them.

Comments by American Students as Comments by American Students as They Visit Japanese SchoolsThey Visit Japanese Schools

Everyone shares responsibility for education in Everyone shares responsibility for education in Japan.  Parents, teachers, students, the Japan.  Parents, teachers, students, the government, and many more all realize the government, and many more all realize the importance of a good education.  In the US, it importance of a good education.  In the US, it seems that everyone is always passing the seems that everyone is always passing the blame.  blame. 

Comments by American Students as Comments by American Students as They Visit Japanese SchoolsThey Visit Japanese Schools

I now truly understand what an English language I now truly understand what an English language learner must feel on his or her first day in the United learner must feel on his or her first day in the United States. I will carry this memory with me as I States. I will carry this memory with me as I welcome new students for years to come.welcome new students for years to come.

Comments by American Students as Comments by American Students as They Visit Japanese SchoolsThey Visit Japanese Schools

I left the schools every day wondering if we I left the schools every day wondering if we expect too much from our children. We expect too much from our children. We expect them to do things beyond their realm, expect them to do things beyond their realm, but do not give them the independence and but do not give them the independence and freedom to do it. We don’t want to give them freedom to do it. We don’t want to give them responsibility because they are children, but responsibility because they are children, but then expect them to act like they are little then expect them to act like they are little adults. We expect them to work to national adults. We expect them to work to national standards, but do not give them time to master standards, but do not give them time to master the skills to do so. the skills to do so.

Comments by American Students as Comments by American Students as They Visit Japanese SchoolsThey Visit Japanese Schools

I discovered what I must teach my own I discovered what I must teach my own students. Through the literature about Sadako students. Through the literature about Sadako and my pictures of the Peace Park, I can teach and my pictures of the Peace Park, I can teach my students about the Japanese ability to my students about the Japanese ability to forgive. Hopefully, this can lead to open and forgive. Hopefully, this can lead to open and frank discussions of our American need for frank discussions of our American need for forgiveness and who we want to be as a nation. forgiveness and who we want to be as a nation.

Japanese College Students Visiting Japanese College Students Visiting Schools in JapanSchools in Japan

““What lies behind us and what lies before us What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within are tiny matters compared to what lies within us” –Emersonus” –Emerson

Japanese College Students Visiting Japanese College Students Visiting Schools in JapanSchools in Japan

Opportunities to learn about a different cultureOpportunities to learn about a different culture Opportunities to learn about ourselvesOpportunities to learn about ourselves Changing the world one small step at a timeChanging the world one small step at a time