CBS: Respect for Japanese Teachers Means Top Results
First thing in the morning, Japanese children bow to their teachers. It's a small gesture that says a lot, reports CBS News correspondent Celia Hatton. Here, respect is not a song title. It's the backbone of Japan's school system, which for decades has topped international rankings while spending the lowest amount on education among developed democracies: 3.3 percent of Japan's gross domestic product, or GDP, goes toward schooling compared to 5 percent in the United States. How do they do so much with so little? By investing in top-notch teachers..."It's impossible for someone to get through the system who is incompetent," said Yuzuru Nakamura, president of Japan's Teachers' Union...more...