If there is one question our school regularly fields from prospective parents it is our class sizes or student-to-teacher ratios. (Answer: 1:7 for preschool, although typically, 1:6 for the three-year-olds. And 1:9 for elementary school.)

As the synopsis of this Comparative Education Review edition suggests, the popular wisdom of U.S. preschool experts is less is more. That it is important for preschoolers to receive individualized attention from their teachers.

In this same synopsis, it was fascinating to learn that in Japan, preschools typically boast up to a 1-to-30 teacher-student ratio.

Japanese preschool teachers and administrators watched and commented on videotapes of Japanese and U.S. preschools. In contrast to American notions of home-school continuity and the mothering role of the preschool teacher, Japanese educators saw their large preschool classes (of approximately 30 students) as teaching overly individualistic, pampered Japanese preschoolers to become responsible members of a group.

I want to point out that the ages of the Japanese children in question were 4- and 5-years-old, not 3-years-old or younger as many American children start school. But as the summary pointed out -- I have not read the actual book or article, which has to be ordered -- Japanese schools are pretty stringent and churn out high-achieving students. Considering the high student-teacher ratios, what gives?

Not having read the book, I am guessing it has to do with cultural expectations and universal thinking on the part of parents across the board. In an American school, teachers are serving children of different races, ethnicities, classes, education levels of the parents -- plus we honor individuality in learning styles and educational philosophies. We don’t have a “one size fits all” approach to education as I am assuming the Japanese have.

It’s an interesting topic. I know I have a preference for the lower student-teacher ratios, but I never realized how much that preference was formed by American culture. Why do you think we have a strong preference for lower student-teacher ratios, MotherTalkers?