Scholars and policymakers have consistently argued for the importance of coherence in teacher education (TE). Despite this attention to coherence, challenges of fragmentation and disconnect remain, and little research exists on how study program leaders (SPLs) in TE work to achieve coherence. This article explores how SPLs in two selected TE…

The historical development of teacher education in Japan is highlighted. Similarities and differences between past and present Japanese and American teacher preparation practices are analyzed. Japanese efforts to modify and use Western pedagogical concepts are described. (MT)