Japanese Special Education Today: Issues and Implications.

Overview & Synopsis

This paper presents a summary discussion of the current status of special education in Japan, its recent history, and issues and trends. Noted is establishment of the current educational system (and special education system) as part of post-war American occupation. The following issues are discussed: centralization and teacher autonomy; compulsory education; numbers of children served in regular and special education; classroom management approaches; the "fallen behind" (those with learning problems); school bullying; curriculum and instruction; parental motivation in education and parent financed institutions; children with reading difficulties; upper secondary schooling; transition and employment; the social status of teachers; teacher education; the Japan Teachers' Union; teacher salaries; financing special education (shared by national, prefectural, and municipal governments); and educational computing in the schools. Additional issues identified include pull-out resource room instruction, competition between public and private schools, and the need to improve service quality. (Contains 15 references.) (DB)