TITLE Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad Program: Malaysia 1995
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
DOCUMENT RESUME ED 405 265 SO 026 916 TITLE Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad Program: Malaysia 1995. Participants' Reports. INSTITUTION Center for International Education (ED), Washington, DC.; Malaysian-American Commission on Educational Exchange, Kuala Lumpur. PUB DATE 95 NOTE 321p.; Some images will not reproduce clearly. PUB TYPE Guides Non-Classroom Use (055) Reports Descriptive (141) Collected Works General (020) EDRS PRICE MFO1 /PC13 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Area Studies; *Asian History; *Asian Studies; Cultural Background; Culture; Elementary Secondary Education; Foreign Countries; Foreign Culture; *Global Education; Human Geography; Instructional Materials; *Non Western Civilization; Social Studies; *World Geography; *World History IDENTIFIERS Fulbright Hays Seminars Abroad Program; *Malaysia ABSTRACT These reports and lesson plans were developed by teachers and coordinators who traveled to Malaysia during the summer of 1995 as part of the U.S. Department of Education's Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad Program. Sections of the report include:(1) "Gender and Economics: Malaysia" (Mary C. Furlong);(2) "Malaysia: An Integrated, Interdisciplinary Social Studies Unit for Middle School/High School Students" (Nancy K. Hof);(3) "Malaysian Adventure: The Cultural Diversity of Malaysia" (Genevieve M. Homiller);(4) "Celebrating Cultural Diversity: The Traditional Malay Marriage Ritual" (Dorene H. James);(5) "An Introduction of Malaysia: A Mini-unit for Sixth Graders" (John F. Kennedy); (6) "Malaysia: An Interdisciplinary Unit in English Literature and Social Studies" (Carol M. Krause);(7) "Malaysia and the Challenge of Development by the Year 2020" (Neale McGoldrick);(8) "The Iban: From Sea Pirates to Dwellers of the Rain Forest" (Margaret E. Oriol);(9) "Vision 2020" (Louis R. Price);(10) "Sarawak for Sale: A Simulation of Environmental Decision Making in Malaysia" (Kathleen L. Prout); (11) "Malaysia: A Model Unit for Study of a Contemporary Culture" (Virginia K. Roll);(12) "Present Day Primary Education of the Pribumi Sea-Dayaks in the Second Division of Sarawak, Malaysia (Barry G. Sprague); and (13) "Vision 2020" (Risa E. Weinberger). Many units also include bibliographies and additional resources. (CB) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** r1 kr) U.S.DEPARTMENT OFEDUCATION FULBRIGHT - HAYSSEMINARSABROAD PROGRAM ., U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATIOI (ERIC) ThentThis document has been reproduced as eceived from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to BEST COPY AMIABLE improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FULBRIGHT-HAYS SEMINARS ABROAD PROGRAM List of Contributors 1. Furlong, Mary C. 2. Hof, Nancy K. 3. Homiller, Genevieve M. 4. James, Dorene H. 5. Kennedy, John F. 6. Krause, Carol M. 7. McGoldrick, Neale 8. Orial Margaret E. 9. Price, Louis R. 10. Prout, Kathleen L. 11. Roll, Virginia K. 12. Sprague, Barry G. 13.. Weinberger, Risa E. U.S.E.D FULBRIGHT SEMINARS ABROADPROGRAM MALAYSIA JUNE 25 - JULY 31, 1995 OBJECTIVES The general objective of the program is to help U.S. education enhancetheir international understanding and increase their knowledge of the people and cultureof another country. Upon their return to the United States, participants are expected toshare their acquired broader knowledge and experiences with students,colleagues, members of civic and professional organizations, and the public in their homecommunities. The specific objectives of the program in Malaysia is tooffer participants an overview of Malaysian life: 1. To be acquainted with the history, economics, geography andculture of Malaysia; 2. To be acquainted with Malaysian cultural diversity and toappreciate the multicultural nature of the society; 3. To gain insights into the contributions of the people ofMalaysia in the areas of art, music, dance, science and technology; 4. To gain insights into the system of education in Malaysia; 5. To gain insights into the national . curriculum of schoolsin Malaysia, with special emphasis on the social studies and language curricula. PROGRAM Participants were introduced to Malaysia and the Malaysian wayof life through talks, discussion and field trips to schools, educational institutions andcultural centers, not only around Kuala Lumpur but also in other parts of the country. Theytravelled to Melaka, Pahang, Kelantan, Penang, Perak and Sarawak. At every location, the group was given presentations with regards tolocal history and culture; local and regional development issues and education. During the course ofthe field visits the group focused its attention on the uniquenessof each of the areas and the kinds of people who live in them. The participants were introduced not only to the many facetsof Malaysian life, but also the rural and urban cultures; the experience thus dealtwith the total fabric of Malaysian society. The experiential dimension was supplementedby visits with individuals and organizations engaged in teaching, training and research. ORGANIZERS Sponsor Department of Education, United States of America Coordinating Agency Malaysian-American Commission on Educational Exchange (MACEE Dr. M. Zain Karim, Executive Director Ms. Kala Kovan, Program Officer Program Coordinator: Prof. Hyacinth Gaudart, Faculty of Education, Universiti Malaya. GENDER AND ECONOMICS: Malaysia MARY C. FURLONG Social Studies Teacher De lone Catholic High McSherrystown, PA 17344 BEST COPY AVAILABLE g. DEDICATED TO THE WOMEN OF ALL AGES, RACES, AND CLASSES IN MALAYSIA ANDTO MY FULIMIGHT COLLEAGUES THAT HAPPILY TREKKED THEMANY CORNERS OF MALAYSIA IN THE SUMMER OF 1005. -BEST COPY AVAILABLE "Evidence -of theincreasing-fragility...of that govern society theenvironment, institutions to search has prompted theinternational community to developmentand security. for alternative paths the half of The participationand leadership of humanity that is femaleis essential tothe success Therefore, nothingshort of a of that search. between radical transformation.ofthe relationships men and womenwill enable the worldto meet the challenges of the newmillennium." (PLATFORM OF ACTION, 1995) "Issues.of gender equality aremoving to the top ofthe and global agenda but betterunderstanding of women's society is essentialto speed men's contributions to practice." (from THE the shift from agendato policy to WORLD'S WOMEN, 1995: TRENDSAND STATISTICS). the role These'two quotes provide aframework for examining decision making, of women's meaningfulparticipation in economic for women, but which must be recognized asnot just beneficial This equally valid for organizations,business and society. and economics on paper will.explore theperceived role of gender the United Nations, andto a globallevel, within the context of of gender in specifically .examine theperception and reality and manufacturing. Malaysia .in three areas:agriculture, business Mongella of As Beijing conferenceSecretaryGeneral Gertrude "The probems of women are 'the United Republic of Tanzaniasaid They not different from countryto country or regionto region.. citizens focused only differ in intensity." While the world's on the 23,000 womenwho gathered for boththe Nongovernmental organization (NGO) conferenceand-the Beijing Fourth International Conference in thefall of 1995, thepath of begun some 20 widening the global economicrole of women had 7 in Mexi-co wears before. The internationalconference on women statistics on in 1975 recognized the importanceof improving 7 BEST COPYAVAILABLE .international.Decade:of-Women (1975 -1985, the women. Dur.ing the International United Nations-Secretariatteamed up with the of Wmen Research and TrainingInstitute for the Advancement (INSTRAW) °to promote dialogueand understanding betweenpolicy conference makers anbstatisticians. -Thus by the time of Nairobi in 1985, there were 29key statistical indicators onthe situation -tor women for 172countries. Since Nairobi, the from women in general approach indevelopment strategy has moved development to gender anddevelopment as a specialfocus related that the International to economics. Most observers believe Conference on PopUlatioh-andDeveloment held in Cairo in1994 breakthrough under the auspices ofthe United Nations brought a two major points: for women. There was a consensus on "Empoweising women and improvingtheir status are essentialto and social realizing -the full potentialof economic, political development-- Empowering women is animportant end in itself." focus had shifted Thus,-by the fall of 1995,the international from women in isolation to womenin relation to men to the and the different roles each has, therelationships_ between them impacts_mf policies and programs. One of the arms ofthe-United at Nations, 'The International LaborOrganization, which has been the forefront in promoting the causeof women workers, recently to play an cited three reasons why itis important for women equal role in economic decisionmaking, whether that be in Malaysia-or in the United States. At the basic level, itis a question of, human rights. Women- :constitute abouthalf the world's population and more thanone third of the workforce. BEST COPY AVAILABLE Equality of opportunity andtreatment