Individualism vs Collectivism

 In Japanese culture, a common phrase is translated to say "The nail that sticks out gets hammered down."  This is because Japan is a group-oriented society.  This is in high contrast to the individualistic society of America.  American children are taught to strive for perfection or to rise above the rest.  They are encouraged to find their passions and express themselves.  Other countries would be shocked by this allowance for children.  In other countries, parents are always consulted before children can make decisions.  Sometimes even extended families are asked for their input!  The cultural implications of individualism vs collectivism must be paid attention to in a multicultural classroom.  I think at a very minimum, the teacher needs to be aware of the culture that each child comes from and their views on these topics.  The push to "rise above" that is prevalent in an American classroom is not always the goal for every child or family. Perhaps over time, their students will gain an excitement that can come from individual achievement.  However, I think American students can also benefit from developing more of a group mind.  I think this helps alleviate the self-centeredness that can arise from too much of a focus on individualism.  We can learn so much by finding value in each other's cultures.