I was born and raised in the US, and now living in Japan with my children attending a public elementary school here. I have been very pleased with my kids' preschool and elementary school so far: the teaching staff, the way subjects are taught (except maybe for English), the sense of responsibility and autonomy they are learning, healthy lunches, the musical performances, their physical fitness, etc. My kids also generally seem to be more fond of their school, and take more pride in it than I had growing up.<p>> “Our job is to prepare them to enter society” by teaching them to collaborate, take initiative and treat everyone equally. He calls it hito-zukuri, the art of making people.<p>> The education ministry’s slogan is chi-toku-tai: a blend of chi (academic ability), toku (moral integrity), and tai (physical health). This means lots of sports and arts. It also means that teachers praise effort, rather than achievement. Studies suggest this is an excellent idea: it makes children more resilient, notes Jennifer Lansford of Duke University.<p>I actually think there is something to this. I struggled a lot in school with depression and behavioral problems - and drugs when I got a bit older - and it wasn't until I finally went off to college and gained some autonomy and was really challenged for the first time that I snapped out of it. With my kids I feel like I can already see that internal drive that I didn't develop until I was 18.<p>Not all perfect, of course. But in general I like what I see.