“Infused with discernment, this sharp critique is an invitation to sift inner workings of educational institutions as they impinge students’ aspirations and are themselves bound by ideology and political discourse. Dr Toh, comprehending causes and effects of power and control which are present but hidden in education, interweaves historical precursors, practices and perceptions, and experience as a teacher and parent. The result has been for me a gleaning of wisdom and an investment with insight.”
—Paul McBride, Tamagawa University, Japan
Glenn Toh
mobility migration mixedness transnationalism transnational marriage school choice heritage language medium of instruction
“Infused with discernment, this sharp critique is an invitation to sift inner workings of educational institutions as they impinge students’ aspirations and are themselves bound by ideology and political discourse. Readers are encouraged to interrogate established boundaries and comprehend causes and effects of power and control which are present but hidden in teaching and learning. In his thought-provoking account spanning individual identity, language practice, pedagogical tradition, and national identity, Dr Toh interweaves historical precursors, current practices and perceptions, and personal experience as a teacher and parent, with precision and depth of understanding. The result has been for me a gleaning of wisdom and an investment with insight. This book has a winnowing effect, as if throwing complications into the air and allowing a wind to blow away impurities. The author reminds all who are impacted by educational processes to look beyond what is frequently seen to what is commonly unseen.”
—Paul McBride, Tamagawa University, Japan
“With more and more Japanese choosing to leave the archipelago to live and work abroad, the notion of Japaneseness remains ever more relevant for its educational institutions. Parents may find themselves asking how children might be educated to both affirm the national sense of homogeneity but also to celebrate emergent forms of cultural identity ushered in through transnational trends and flows. The author does an exceedingly good job in addressing these questions. Aware that half of humanity now live in some form of city environment, he gets right to the task of addressing the defining questions of the 21st century – that is the educational issues surrounding race, diversity, linguistic and cultural heritage, global citizenship, and the sense of dignity in our rapidly changing urban environments.”
—Joff P. N. Bradley, Teikyo University, Japan