Chapter 9: The Role of the Teacher in Education Reform: Views From Japan and Indonesia

Analyzing the translation and implementation of education decentralization policies enacted in Japan and Indonesia, this chapter examines the economic, political, and cultural conditions that shape the behavior of classroom teachers. Drawing from more than 20 years conducting research in these two locations, the author documents the behavior of Japanese and Indonesian educators and connects their actions to the personal and professional contexts in which they operate. By identifying the factors that support or create challenges for teachers as they respond to reform directives, the author seeks to draw some broader conclusions about the ways that teachers in these settings approach their work, develop professional priorities, and make decisions about how they can best serve their students.