A comparison of Japanese, Chinese and American preschools, discussing how these schools both reflect and affect philosophies of child-rearing and early childhood education and larger social patterns and beliefs in each society.
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The authors videotaped similar situations in preschools in these three countries and then discussed the videos with teachers, parents, and others. Their efforts reveal the different behaviors and attitudes that each culture emphasizes. While all hope to respond to the needs of the child in the changing societies of each country, some amazing differences prevail. In Japan, the ratio of pupils to teacher is 30 to 1, to force children to learn to get along with others. In China regimen, order, and control are essential elements of education, partially to overcome the problem of spoiling in China's single-child family. In the United States creativity and respect for the individual are bywords. Sadly, child abduction and abuse are uniquely American concerns. A well-written, thought-provoking comparison that can only lead to better understanding. Highly recommended. Educator's Book Club alternate.
- Annette V. Janes, Hamilton P.L., Mass.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
- Annette V. Janes, Hamilton P.L., Mass.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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More About the Author
Joseph Tobin is the Elizabeth Garrard Hall Professor of Education at the University of Georgia. His research interests include cross-cultural studies of early childhood education, immigration and education, children and the media, and qualitative research methods. Among his publications are Preschool in Three Cultures Revisited; Good Guys Don't Wear Hats: Children's Talk about the Media; and Pikachu's Global Adventure: The Rise and Fall of Pokemon. He directs the Children Crossing Borders project, a study of parent and staff views about what children of recent immigrants should experience in preschool settings. His newest project is a study of Deaf Kindergartens in Japan, France, and the US.
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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By "lcmathews"
Format:Paperback
Tobin et al compare preschools in Japan, the US and China in a fascinating cross-cultural study. What makes this study so compelling is that you hear not only the authors' interpretations of what they see, but also the opinions of the teachers, administrators and the parents OF ALL THREE CULTURES. By having parents, teachers and administrators watch video tapes of the preschools in the non-native country, you get an eye-opening assesment of what each preschool is trying to do in its culture and how it compares with what other preschools accomplish. I have my daughter enrolled in a Japanese preschool, and the opnions and analysis on what Japanese preschools are like is dead-on, as is the analysis of the American preschool.
The real eye-opener for those readers not familiar with preschools in Japan is how chaotic, loosely-structured, and easy-going they are. The 30-1 child-teacher ratio makes chaos inevitable, but it forces the kids to learn how to deal with each other, rather than an authority figure. Contrasted to the American pre-school style, where the teacher runs the show, enforces the rules and molds the kids to act in a manner that the teacher/school has decided is appropriate, Japanese kids actually get more practice resolving conflicts and taking responsibility for problem-solving.
This is actually one study that is fun to read, too! Highly recommended.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I'm a father of a 1-year old. I ordered this book as preparation for the headache of nursery-kindergarten-school-selection process. I'm happy to find this book to provide detailed case studies of 3 schools in 3 different countries, while outlining the factors, environment, and other relevant considerations. Although the authors already pointed out that this is not comprehensive (and not intended to be), the book itself provides the context and opinions for those settings. These are what I looked for. The book helps me understand the cultural, the underlying context of each country, and how these influence the children and thus the society, e.g. why Japanese are what they are, and so on. Although it's quite dated, but I don't think society and particularly education change that quickly. In addition, previously a qualitative researcher myself, I'm quite satisfied with the methodology and the way this book is written in that sense. Buy one if you want to know how early education can influence the nation, the way it always does.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Lizzy Tafoya
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
interesting for an academic book, easy to read, and straight-forward. also, liked how they kept opinions open instead of trying to only make one point about certain cultures/ideas
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Preschool in Three Cultures: Japan, China and the United States
Preschool in Three Cultures: Japan, China and the United States is most useful in my business and its growth. I hope to visit those 2 countries soon.
Published 19 months ago by Rhonda L. Teague
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very Interesting -
The book summarizes observations made in 1985 preschools in China, Japan, and the U.S. Per the authors, about 95% of 4-year-olds in Tokyo, 80% in Beijing, and 65% in N.Y. Read more
Published on December 22, 2010 by Loyd E. Eskildson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Nothing Natural about How We Treat Our Children
Tobin, Wu and Davidson's study of preschools in three cultures (Japan, China, US)is a must read for early childhood educators. Read more
Published on January 26, 2010 by Ada
5.0 out of 5 stars
Really helps understand the cultures...
The book is amazing. They go to three preschools, one in China, one in Japan, and one in the USA, and compare them by class size, structure, methods, materials and even... Read more
Published on August 27, 2009 by Michael Valdivielso
5.0 out of 5 stars
Groundbreaking video ethnography
Tobin's book has been around for a number of years now. Nevertheless, it continues to set the standard in the creation of video ethnography. Read more
Published on February 7, 2003
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 11
books:
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82
books
cite this book:
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- Head Start: The Inside Story Of America's Most Successful Educational Experiment by Edward Zigler on page 171, and Back Matter
- The Japanese Educational Challenge: A Commitment to Children by Merry White on page 31, and page 173
- The Erosion of Childhood by Valerie Polakow on page 181
- Early Schooling: The National Debate by Sharon Lynn Kagan on page 177
- Haven in a Heartless World by Christopher Lasch on page 178
See all 11 books this book cites
- American Individualisms: Child Rearing and Social Class in Three Neighborhoods (Culture, Mind, and Society) by Adrie Kusserow on 5 pages
- American Individualisms: Child Rearing and Social Class in Three Neighborhoods (Culture, Mind, and Society) by Adrie Kusserow on 5 pages
- Japanese and American Education: Attitudes and Practices by Harry Wray on 5 pages
- Qualitative Research in Early Childhood Settings by John Amos Hatch on page 85, page 110, and Back Matter
- Pledging Allegiance: Learning Nationalism at the El Paso-Juarez Border by Susan J. Rippberger in Front Matter, page 13, and Back Matter
See all 82 books citing this book
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