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Educational Excellence

• Japan - Paula Fabian
“Japanese-style school education provides not only classroom instruction but also guidance for
students’ daily lives. Teachers have a great deal of responsibility in taking care of their students ‘24/7.’
Public elementary school students do not wear uniforms, but all public and private junior and senior
high students wear uniforms. One of the main features of Japanese schools is the school lunch.
School lunches in Japan are inexpensive and nutritionally balanced. Based on the guidance of
the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), school lunches in
Japan are carefully regulated in terms of calories, nutritional value, and budget per meal. Many
elementary schools may not have cafeterias, so students eat in their classrooms and take turns
helping serve lunch to classmates.
“Field Day, called ‘Sports Day’ in Japan, is usually a fall event with all students being divided
into teams to compete against each other. You do not have to have any athletic ability to participate.
The events are often unique and fun for all, with parents/grandparents, etc. coming to watch with
a picnic lunch.
“Most public schools do not really have a janitor but a school caretaker/maintenance person
who is a civil servant. At the end of each school day, the cleaning is done by the students, both
in the school and on the grounds and public sidewalks around the school. Students are usually
divided into small groups, taking daily/weekly turns cleaning the classroom, hallway, restroom,
etc. Students empty the trash, sweep, and mop daily. In elementary schools, older students usually
help/work with 1st and 2nd graders. Students are taught to take pride in their school by keeping
things neat and tidy with team effort.”

• United States of America – Yvonne Gatley
“The ubiquitous yellow school bus indicates transportation to and from school for students in the
United States. ‘Nationally, 26 million children in the U.S. take 480,000 buses to and from school
each day. School buses travel about 12,000 miles per year per bus or almost 6 billion cumulative
miles per year” (New York School Bus Contractors Association, 2023).
“The school year in the U.S. begins mid-August or mid-September and runs through mid-May
or mid-June. These dates are often geographically driven. Most schools offer a winter/holiday
break at the end of December and may additionally have a spring break.”

Learning More About Educational Systems
DKG members may not be able to experience firsthand the educational systems of each member country
but can become informed through a variety of avenues. Explore the DKG website, read the publications,
and attend conferences and conventions. Invite a speaker from the International Speakers Fund to present
at your state organization meetings. Connect with another chapter in a different country and hold a joint
Zoom meeting. Create programs at your chapters that highlight the countries of DKG. You may be able
to find someone in your community who is from that country or has knowledge due to travel or work
opportunities. To pursue DKG’s vision of promoting educational excellence, educate yourself and your
fellow members about similarities and differences in our educational systems.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

—Nelson Mandela

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