At the jr. high school, the principal, Mr. Masao Yamada, and his staff gave us a revealing overview of the main administrative differences between US and Japanese schools.

1. All school principals change schools every 3 years.
2. All school teachers change schools every 6-7 years.
3. Schools hire no janitors. Students do the cleaning and maintain the school clean.
4. Teachers must pass a certification exam only once during their whole career.
5. Teachers only take special classes when evaluations are not satisfactory.
6. Teachers are evaluated by a team composed by colleagues and the principal.
7. The school board evaluates the principal and the school in general 3 times a year.
8. Students eat lunch in their classrooms.
9. Every teacher has a mentor (senior colleague)
10. Usually school administrators are not appointed until they turn 45 or 50 years old.