Disagrees with Harold Stevenson's article in same "Educational Leadership" issue; Stevenson compares incomparable groups of students and misinterprets data. Although U.S. students rate ability higher than Chinese students, they also appreciate value of effort. Chicago kids are poorer and come from larger families than their Chinese…

The evidence presented here would seem to indicate that a competitively oriented classroom does not strongly promote learning or strengthen interpersonal relationships or contribute to healthy psycho-social attitudes. (Author)

Since 1993, groups of Connecticut high school students have had the opportunity to explore Russia firsthand, thanks to a program called "Linking Schools Through Language and Technology." Although Russia is an unstable society, schools visited by New Haven youngsters were cozy, child-centered beacons of continuity and tradition. Schools…

Educators must realize that, in Japan, authentic learning means mastery of memorized information, not experiential learning and independent reasoning in preparation for life. Although many Japanese can recite long strings of facts, few can answer "why,""how,""what if," and "what do you think" questions about…

In a letter to a Japanese university president, a French-Canadian educational administration student ponders the fundamental contradictions between the authoritarian, hierarchical Japanese education system and the Total Quality Management principles driving Japanese industry. The university president's reply explains how de-individualization,…