The first day of elementary school, a milestone in a child's life, brings a mix of emotions for parents. The pride and joy of seeing their child taking his first steps into the world are tempered with feelings of anxiety in moms and dads everywhere.

Misgivings can be more intense for a parent living in a foreign country who knows little of the school system in their adopted land. The fact that their offspring will be acquiring a different set of values hits home. Sensational reports in the media of bullying, incompetent teachers and out-of-control classrooms add to their concerns.

Graham and Ayako Briggs, a British/Japanese couple raising two children in Japan, have a daughter in kindergarten. Like many international couples, they worry about the impending step up to elementary school.