East-West Center Annual Report 2001

[ 19 ]Consortiumfor TeachingAsia and the Pacificin the Schools(CTAPS)The East-West Center received national recognition for its K-12 outreach workwith Hawai‘i schools in the report, “Asia in the Schools: Preparing YoungAmericans for Today’s Interconnected World.” The report was issued by theNational Commission on Asia in the Schools, a blue-ribbon committee ofnationally recognized leaders in education, policymaking, and business,including governors and former governors.It highlights the need for Asia-related education in U.S. schools and offersrecommendations for policymakers, education leaders, government officials, andbusiness and civic leaders to take effective action for implementation. Selected asone of fourteen “best practice” models nationwide, the Center’s CTAPSprogram was lauded as an example of path-breaking work to promote teachingand learning about Asia and the Pacific region in schools across the country.CTAPS’ goal is to increase U.S. student learning about Asia and the Pacificthrough teacher education, leadership training and resource dissemination. Ithas provided professional development support to K-12 educators throughoutHawai‘i and on the U.S. mainland. Activities include leadership teamworkshops which emphasize team-building, interdisciplinary teachingapproaches, and staff development strategies for school-wide implementation.CTAPS participants during the year were from every school district inHawai’i, Australia, and from California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York,Wisconsin, Virginia, Illinois, Florida, Rhode Island and Washington, D.C.Funding by the Freeman Foundation enabled a travel seminar to SoutheastAsia for K-12 teachers. Four Hawai‘i educators were among 16 educatorsnationwide selected to participate in the program, which included a seminar atthe East-West Center and 18 days in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. In-countryactivities included lecture presentations and discussions, visits to culturallysignificant monuments and sites, school visits and conversations with localeducators, and opportunities to witness as well as participate in specialceremonies and cultural performances.Reflecting on the significance of the program, one teacher noted, “Peoplefear what they do not know; by immersing our group in this area’s culture,CTAPS has created a rich reality, which is readily transferable through pictures,artifacts, personal experiences, and interpretations into lessons that can betaught for years, touching literally thousands of young people. ”■ Namji Kim Steinemann directs the CTAPS program.