Teachers in Japan, like those in the other APEC members studied, spend long hours at the school building or home to accomplish their job. It is not unusual for lower secondary school teachers to be at the school building between 60 and 70 hours per week. Often it is the younger teachers who put in the longest hours. Traditionally, with these responsibilities comes a relatively high degree of respect in the eyes of the community. One indication of teachers' rank in society is that their level of remuneration is generally equivalent to or slightly higher than other public employees with similar academic backgrounds.
Japanese teachers are well-respected when compared to teachers in other societies.
Teachers interviewed feel that, while respect is high compared to teachers in other societies, there has been a decline in the respect accorded teachers over the past several years. According to the teachers and administrators interviewed, as education levels of the general public have increased over the past several decades, this distinction no longer exists. Additionally, some noted that, in general, the Japanese people are becoming more likely to question traditional figures of authority. In recent years, the media have focused on the problems associated with Japanese school life, such as high levels of stress among both teachers and students, increased rates of violence in the schools, and most recently, the problem of groups of students or entire classes singling out a particular student for harassment and bullying. Although these incidents may not be as widespread as media suggest, certainly there is increased public concern about the school environment.