Teacher studies Japanese schools

Bennett plans on strengthening international connections with the Far East.
By KATIE LIBECCO
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CANFIELD -- Steve Bennett's recent trip to Japan has taught him a few things.
"We're different, but we're the same," the 53-year-old computer literacy teacher for Mahoning County Career & amp; Technical Center said after his return from three weeks of study in that country.
Bennett has taught at MCCTC for 10 years and said the trip, through the Japanese Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program, was his first experience in Asia.
"It was a phenomenal opportunity -- a lot of education in a little bit of time. It's good to learn that way," said Bennett, who also is a computer programming instructor at Youngstown State University.
The trip began Nov. 21. He traveled with a group of about 200 Americans, although they split into smaller groups to visit schools in Akishima, a Tokyo suburb. He and a group of about 20 people toured schools from kindergarten through college.
"They're facing the same problem we have here in many cases. Around the world, we're all the same. We're dealing with the same issues. Going to Japan was a great study in how to approach those issues," Bennett said.
To understand the education system, Bennett said they also looked at the country's religion, history and the culture. Bennett said he saw Americans as more aggressive, more confident, whereas he saw the Japanese as being more formal and structured in relationships.
What he found
Bennett said he saw Japan slowly integrate special-needs pupils into mainstream classes as he said America did in the 1960s and 1970s. He added, however, that American standardized testing is beginning to look like Japan's.
"It's all high-stakes testing in Japan. I think we're on the cusp of that, starting to implement a higher level of testing," Bennett said. "I'm not sure if it's good or bad."
Bennett said he saw similarities in funding, structure and parent involvement in the schools. The primary difference in education, however, was the presence of juku, an additional form of schooling similar to college prep classes or tutoring.
He said Japanese pupils generally attend for several hours on school nights. He also said public school lasted through ninth grade -- after that parents had to pay about $3,500 annually for the last three years.
Gifts
While in Japan, Bennett presented Akishima political leaders with pens from Canfield. In return, they presented him with a fan that he will present to Canfield officials.
He also said he'd like to speak to local city officials and civic groups, to help further develop ties to the Far East.
"Communication is easier these days. You can call someone and it's like they're right next door," Bennett said.
Bennett also helped teach international business from his experience to a social studies class at MCCTC, which he said he hopes to do more. He also said he'd like to start working with YSU to create stronger international programs.
"To revitalize the area, we have to promote ourselves in international business," Bennett added.