SO 026 916 Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad Program: Malaysia Center for International ...

317 Pages·2012·5.85 MB·English

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
Non-Classroom Use (055)
Guides
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)
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Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
from the original document.
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r1
EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF
U.S.
kr)
ABROAD PROGRAM
SEMINARS
FULBRIGHT - HAYS
.,
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Educational Research and improvement
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATIOI
(ERIC)
Thent has been reproduced as
This document
eceived from the person or organization
originating it.
BEST COPY AMIABLE
Minor changes have been made to
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
HAYS SEMINARS ABROAD PROGRAM
FULBRIGHT
-
List of Contributors
Furlong, Mary C.
1.
Hof, Nancy K.
2.
Homiller, Genevieve M.
3.
James, Dorene H.
4.
Kennedy, John F.
5.
Krause, Carol M.
6.
McGoldrick, Neale
7.
Orial Margaret E.
8.
Price, Louis R.
9.
Prout, Kathleen L.
10.
Roll, Virginia K.
11.
Sprague, Barry G.
12.
Weinberger, Risa E.
13..
PROGRAM
U.S.E.D FULBRIGHT SEMINARS ABROAD
MALAYSIA
JUNE 25 - JULY 31, 1995
OBJECTIVES
their international
The general objective of the program is to help U.S. education enhance
of another country.
understanding and increase their knowledge of the people and culture
share their acquired
Upon their return to the United States, participants are expected to
colleagues, members of civic and
broader knowledge and experiences with students,
communities.
professional organizations, and the public in their home
offer participants an overview
The specific objectives of the program in Malaysia is to
of Malaysian life:
culture of Malaysia;
To be acquainted with the history, economics, geography and
1.
appreciate the multicultural
To be acquainted with Malaysian cultural diversity and to
2.
nature of the society;
Malaysia in the areas of
To gain insights into the contributions of the people of
3.
art, music, dance, science and technology;
To gain insights into the system of education in Malaysia;
4.
in Malaysia, with special
To gain insights into the national . curriculum of schools
5.
emphasis on the social studies and language curricula.
PROGRAM
of life through talks,
Participants were introduced to Malaysia and the Malaysian way
cultural centers, not only
discussion and field trips to schools, educational institutions and
travelled to Melaka,
around Kuala Lumpur but also in other parts of the country. They
Pahang, Kelantan, Penang, Perak and Sarawak.
local history and culture;
At every location, the group was given presentations with regards to
the field visits the
local and regional development issues and education. During the course of
of each of the areas and the kinds of people who
group focused its attention on the uniqueness
of Malaysian
live in them. The participants were introduced not only to the many facets
with the total fabric
life, but also the rural and urban cultures; the experience thus dealt
by visits with
of Malaysian society. The experiential dimension was supplemented
individuals and organizations engaged in teaching, training and research.
ORGANIZERS
Department of Education, United States of America
Sponsor
Malaysian-American Commission on Educational
Coordinating Agency
Exchange (MACEE
Dr. M. Zain Karim, Executive Director
Ms. Kala Kovan, Program Officer
Prof. Hyacinth Gaudart, Faculty of Education,
Program Coordinator:
Universiti Malaya.
GENDER AND ECONOMICS:
Malaysia
MARY C. FURLONG
Social Studies Teacher
De lone Catholic High
McSherrystown, PA 17344
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g.
DEDICATED TO THE
WOMEN OF ALL
AGES, RACES, AND
CLASSES IN
MALAYSIA AND
TO
MY FULIMIGHT
COLLEAGUES
THAT HAPPILY
TREKKED THE
MANY
CORNERS OF
MALAYSIA
IN THE SUMMER
OF 1005.
-BEST COPY AVAILABLE
increasing-fragility...of
"Evidence -of the
that govern society
theenvironment, institutions
to search
international community
has prompted the
and security.
to development
for alternative paths
the half of
and leadership of
The participation
the success
is essential to
humanity that is female
short of a
Therefore, nothing
of that search.
between
the relationships
radical transformation.of
to meet the
will enable the world
men and women
(PLATFORM OF
millennium."
challenges of the new
ACTION, 1995)
the
moving to the top of
"Issues.of gender equality are
and
understanding of women's
global agenda but better
to speed
society is essential
men's contributions to
practice." (from THE
to policy to
the shift from agenda
AND STATISTICS).
WORLD'S WOMEN, 1995: TRENDS
the role
framework for examining
These'two quotes provide a
decision making,
participation in economic
of women's meaningful
for women, but
not just beneficial
which must be recognized as
This
business and society.
equally valid for organizations,
and economics on
perceived role of gender
paper will.explore the
to
the United Nations, and
level, within the context of
a global
in
of gender
perception and reality
specifically .examine the
and manufacturing.
agriculture, business
Malaysia .in three areas:
Mongella of
SecretaryGeneral Gertrude
As Beijing conference
"The probems of women are
said
'the United Republic of Tanzania
They
to region..
to country or region
not different from country
citizens focused
While the world's
only differ in intensity."
the Nongovernmental
who gathered for both
on the 23,000 women
and-the Beijing Fourth
organization (NGO) conference
path of
fall of 1995, the
International Conference in the
begun some 20
role of women had
widening the global economic
in Mexi-co
conference on women
7
The international
wears before.
statistics on
of improving
in 1975 recognized the importance
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7
.international.Decade:of-Women (1975 -1985, the
Dur.ing the
women.
International
teamed up with the
United Nations-Secretariat
of Wmen
Institute for the Advancement
Research and Training
policy
and understanding between
(INSTRAW) °to promote dialogue
conference
-Thus by the time of Nairobi
makers anbstatisticians.
the
key statistical indicators on
in 1985, there were 29
Since Nairobi, the
countries.
situation -tor women for 172
from women in
development strategy has moved
general approach in
focus related
development as a special
development to gender and
that the International
Most observers believe
to economics.
1994
Develoment held in Cairo in
Conference on PopUlatioh-and
breakthrough
the United Nations brought a
under the auspices of
two major points:
There was a consensus on
for women.
to
their status are essential
"Empoweising women and improving
and social
of economic, political
realizing -the full potential
development--
important end in itself."
Empowering women is an
focus had shifted
the international
Thus,-by the fall of 1995,
to the
in relation to men
from women in isolation to women
and the different
relationships_ between them
roles each has, the
the-United
One of the arms of
impacts_mf policies and programs.
at
Organization, which has been
Nations, 'The International Labor
of women workers, recently
the forefront in promoting the cause
to play an
is important for women
cited three reasons why it
making, whether that be in
equal role in economic decision
is a
At the basic level, it
Malaysia-or in the United States.
half the
Women- :constitute about
question of, human rights.
one third of the workforce.
world's population and more than
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treatment in employment is-their
Equality of opportunity and
Discrimination
matter of social justice.
Second, it is a
right.
economic
severest when it comes to the
against women is at its
requirement for the
Finally, it is an essential
sector.
are able to contribute
effectiveness of development, as women
better
Women can also ensure a
their abilities and creativity.
and distribution of the
balance in the allocation of resources
Thus, the global stage has seen a
benefitsJof progress.
agenda and in policy, making it
momumental shift in attitude, in
to discuss and to implement
possible for individual nations
viable options for women-..
study for gender opportunity,
When we view. Malaysia as a case
Jamilah Ariffin's
the agricultural sector.
we will first examine
that Malaysian women
WOMEN AND DEVELOPMENT IN MALAYSIA argues
She
the village economy.
have played ;an "intrinsic" role in
functioned as the basic
further maintains that the family
"With the processof
economic unit in pre-colonial times.
commiditu and production
colonialism, labour became a marketable
importance as compared to
for money compensatiOn took on greater
There
involved."
subsistence production-that many .women were
agricultural modernisation on
have been two direct results of
In the beginning stages
loss of work and loss of income.
women
actual demand for women.
of the Green Revolution, there was an
they had access and
The women were in a better position as
Once mechanization was
control over their economic resources.
labor, both male and
adopted in Malaysia due to high cost of
Maila Stivins in
eliminated.
female workers could be and were
studied the rice
"Paradigms and Peasntr-ies in RuraI'Malaysia"
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economy An Negeri Sembilan and
similar conclusions An
that it was women who
were hurt as mechanization
wiped out
women's farming
source of income.
The second consequence
was to
make women totally
dependent as they had
no access to other
means
of production.
Younger, educated
women are migrating to
urban
areas to locate careers
appropriate with their
education.
One
Positive result has been
the movement of farm families
from
traditional farming at
the subsistence level to
commercial
farming.
Commerical farming will require
new skills, especialy
in planning, marketing
and accounting.
It is very possible
that
the farm-entrepreneur
family will work as a business
unit and the
role of the female
may assume the managerial role
in the farm and
the family.
Government officals have.implemented
training
programs to educate family members
to keep financial records.
Table
/
provides some data on the agricultural
sector of
Malaysia.
Kelentan, an area visited by this
writer, was an example of
the second focus of the Malaysian
economy: women serving as small
scale traders (businesses).
"The process of development
has
produced an "uprooting
of rural groups and their
redistribution
to areas which provide
some industrial and service
sector
employment.
The group most
discriminated against
are older and
often married
women with few educational
qualifications or formal
documents.
These women
are thus forced to seek forms of
non-wage
income generating
activities."
("Women in the Small Market
Place: A Case Study
of Women Small Scale Traders
in Kelantan"
by
Nor' Aini Hj Idris).
-Women traders -in the
market place can be
part-time or full-time
traders with the main
purpose of both to
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