What the Public Knows

[Annubis]

Here is a place of discrepancies. If you'd like to discuss what the public knows versus what only a few people find out about, let's do it here.

People see manga everywhere. Pachinko. What else is everywhere? This is what I consider mass education. What do people spend most of their positive energy doing? This is learning. I'm curious to know what the majority of Japanese people learn. Where and how do they learn their place in society? How does a girl figure that long boots and a short skirt with a white winter coat is in style, therefor something she must have, or that it is something socially acceptable? In Canada, this would be considered drag if a young woman was dressed in this way, because it is such a stereotype of how women should look to be sexy. Why do you think so many foreign men come to Japan? Women don't usually dress in this way (accept maybe during the summer in Montreal). So what's the difference?

I wonder how my life would be different if I was born and raised here.

[Mike Cash]

What does this have to do with the Japanese education system? Sounds more like pop culture to me.

[Annubis]

Education is not only at school. A lot of what we learn is outside of school. This is why I began this thread.

[Derfel]

"Education The Japanese education system and its effects on society."

This means academic education. Stuff you learn in school, high school, college, university, scientific academy, kindergarten, short courses.
There aren't different subforums and threads for nothing.

[Annubis]

Ah... and how does that work here? I mean most of what I learnt I learnt on my own in Art school... cus the education system in Canada can be very flexible. I have a Diploma in Integrated Media.. .but that means pretty much anything. Is there a possibility for that kind of openness? I mean, how strict is the education system? But I am certain it is the education system that reflects the popular culture and what society learns outside of school. That is what I'm trying to get at... the stuff outside affected by education, and people's reactions to the education they get. I mean... really the uniform is a part of the system of education, is that why so many girls wear short skirts. Maybe... hehe... in Montreal, there are many catholic schools where girls wear uniforms... perhaps that affects the way they dress.

[pipokun]

Probably this is the same attitude on the kawaii culure, but ask Japanese women you know if they care about men's eyes or not.

I bet 73% of the women would say, "who cares!".

[Mike Cash]

Originally Posted by Annubis

Education is not only at school. A lot of what we learn is outside of school. This is why I began this thread.

I don't disagree with your idea, just the placement of it.

Look above the thread:

Education The Japanese education system and its effects on society.

[tokapi]

He should re-phrase it ... Japanese entertainment and its effects on society

[Glenski]

Originally Posted by Annubis

Here is a place of discrepancies.

I don't understand. What discrepancies are you talking about?

What do people spend most of their positive energy doing? This is learning.

Maybe to you, but not to me. Besides, most people spend most of their time just getting by day to day.

I'm curious to know what the majority of Japanese people learn. Where and how do they learn their place in society?

From their peers and family, just like you did.

Why do you think so many foreign men come to Japan?

How do you figure the number is "many"? Besides, their reasons are quite varied, and they will probably vary with occupation and nationality.

[Annubis]

You are right Glenski. Forgive me. I guess I haven't been here long enough to really understand the culture yet. It's just that when I walk down the street, I see most men wearing suits and women wearing short skirts. This is strange to me because I come from a different culture. I understand that peers, family and school are how we learn our place in society. But today, most families are too busy to be with their children and peers are always changing. The school is a very good place to learn academics, like math, reading and writing, etc. But what about feminism, politics, postcolonialism and world issues. These are topics in university, but I wonder if this kind of education happens outside of school like it does in Canada. Public education is important, because not everybody has the opportunity to go to a post secondary institution. Television, radio and social activities are geared towards educating the population.

[Glenski]

Originally Posted by Annubis

You are right Glenski. Forgive me. I guess I haven't been here long enough to really understand the culture yet.

How long have you been here?

It's just that when I walk down the street, I see most men wearing suits and women wearing short skirts.

I guess it depends on who you are looking at.

But today, most families are too busy to be with their children and peers are always changing.

Regardless of whether families have time or not, they provide children with some learning, even if it's through osmosis. And, as for peers changing, what do you mean?

The school is a very good place to learn academics, like math, reading and writing, etc. But what about feminism, politics, postcolonialism and world issues. These are topics in university, but I wonder if this kind of education happens outside of school like it does in Canada.

Gee, I'm from the USA and that type of learning was usually something self-taught/self-learned, too. Courses in poly sci, culture, languages, feminism, etc. are pretty much electives, so it takes an interested/curious person to get into them. I wasn't.

Public education is important, because not everybody has the opportunity to go to a post secondary institution. Television, radio and social activities are geared towards educating the population.

This seems to be more along the lines of what you really want to discuss here. Yes, many people don't proceed into university here. Who was it that said, "the world needs ditch diggers, too"? Yes, the media "are geared" towards educating, but it varies with the type of situation. Did you have something specific to bring out?

[Kyoto Returnee]

Originally Posted by pipokun

Probably this is the same attitude on the kawaii culure, but ask Japanese women you know if they care about men's eyes or not.

I bet 73% of the women would say, "who cares!".

I found they care...

I didn't know my eyes were so "nice" until I went to Japan.

[Annubis]

I find that environmental education is very high. It is everywhere. Japanese people are very environmentally aware. Recycling, etc... Hmmm... I will keep my eyes open for more public education. I'm looking for education that effects the society as a whole.