geography/demography reading

The thing that I remembered today from my childhood, but we didn't share such things, was the following. . . I grew up in San Pedro and we had a Japanese family next door, the Sugiyamas. They told me about being in the "relocation camp" and how they used to live in Washington state. I was excited and shared the information with my teacher, I was about a 4th grader. I got detention over it. She said it had never happened. Then I was reminded that we used to sell Christmas seals to save pagan babies in Africa and Asia with prizes given for the child that sold the most stamps. We DID go door to door. Being something of a hermit,I will read tonight. Thanks, today was elucidating! I am also reading ENDGAME 1945, The missing final chapter of WWII by David Stafford. (From Daedalus of course!)

Today's lecture made me recall lots of historical events that my parents used to talk about at dinner table. One of them is Lu Gou Qiao(Marco Polo Bridge) Incident. On July 7, 1937, Japanese excused that a soldier was missing, they had to enter to search. China refused the unreasonable demands. Japanese launched a long-planned war. This attack curtained off Japanese ambition to swallow China. Until the surrender of Japan in 1945, the end of the World War II, the eight-year war in between China and Japan finally ended.

p.s. My father loved to talk about historical stories with a cup of Taiwan beer(as famous as Qingdao beer) and a plate of roast peanuts.

This is just some thoughts on today's lecture. World History teachers out there, it would be great to elaborate. Clay talked about incorporating East Asia more actively into the examples we give students of trends/concepts, etc. outside of what is already in the standards. I started to make a list of the units we cover the first semester in 10th grade world and would love some suggestions on how to talk about Asia in some of these units. Specific examples/tie-ins would be welcome. Here's what I jotted down quickly:

Semester 1:

Unit 1: Foundations of Democracy
This is an easy one since you can talk about China/North Korea when you talk about the different types of governments.

What else?

Unit 2: French Revolution & Napoleon
How to tie in East Asia here?

Unit 3: Other Revolutions & Nationalism
Again, easy as you could start to talk about China and Japan in the early 19th century here in addition to what's going on in Europe.

Unit 4: Industrial Revolution
I hate to admit this but our book mentions very little about China's industrial output during this period. I want to include the chart Clay showed us today and start the unit talking about China and then move into England.

Unit 5: Imperialism
Easy.

Unit 6: WWI
No mention of China made in our book regarding WWI. Ideas?

Unit 7: Russian Revolution
Obviously no mention but could say lay seeds for later on. Ideas?

Hi, I had another thought that is perhaps more germane to the discussion today. I have ordered and intend to base my enrichment program on the following quote as the "underlying principle". . . "Other cultures are not failed attempts to be you. Each culture is a unique expression of the human spirit." Wade Davis, sociologist. I think that is a good foundation for my kids as a jumping off point and underlying structure.

The morning session provided me with ideas on how to present the history of E Asia by examining many issues currently faced there. How did they get this way? Why do they think the way they do? Making sure students understand the context of contact between Asia and the US will allow them to more easily understand why things happened the way they did in history. It is a powerful strategy that I think will capture the attention of my H.S. students. It also challenged me to use examples in Asia whenever I discuss topics like democratization, Imperialism, the environment and other societal issues. It is an amazing concept to think how young the democracies in Japan and Korea and Taiwan really are! I use references to the Americas and Europe many times and in many places to reinforce the objectives of the day, but honestly... I never thought about including Asian examples. HOW BIASED IS THAT!!!! I feel convicted :}

I also liked the way Clay used powerpoints with more pictures than words to introduce and explain the topics- especially in his discussion of the media and the interconnectedness of Asia and the U.S. It made me think and when I use this method in the class it will also help my students to think before we get into the subject.

The comparison stats I also picked up were also tremendous. Like the death toll of the '08 earthquake in China compared to Northridge, cell phone use in asia and "Wang ba" users and all that entails. The example given comparing the 1000 yen note and $100 bill, and the significance of Fukuzuma Yukichi to the Japanese and Ben Franklin to Americans was also a powerful example of how as people, Asians and Americans share many common human traits- like drive, creativity and a love of the old ways but a curiosity of the new!

I am a "keeper collector". These are things people and instructors say or questions they ask as asides. They are powerful illustrations for ideas that I use with my students to help them learn. My favorites from the morning included:

China- From Mao to Yao

If Hitler could get royalties, he'd be richer than Elvis

Science moves forward through failure and success

Can we get over all the things in our past?

China's official bird is the "construction crane".

1000 cars a week are added to the streets of Beijing.

Demography is destiny.

Korea is a "bumpy" country

Thanks Clay for these great thoughts!

M-W

This set of documents really opened my eyes to the challenges that face China, Japan, and Korea. Most discussion that occurs in America about China is about the the back seat that America is taking to China economically and how it is only going to get worse as China gains momentum into the 21st century. This is the first I have read about the problems that China will be faced with as it continues its rapid pace of development. It totally makes sense that China is polluting its water supply and that its huge and aging population will cause problems for China in the near future as they quickly use up natural resources to develop the country .
In regards to Japan, it too has issues with overcrowding and an aging population, but the main challenge Japan faces in my mind is how to deal with its geological issues, ie earthquakes. It also has to figure out a balance between creating jobs and, at the same time, using sophisticated technology (robots) which tends to decrease the need for human labor.
Korea of course has to deal with its hostile neighbor to the North and the legacy of being divided as a result of the Cold War. In my mind, Korea is the most likely region that the U.S. will have to deal with as they struggle to address all of the tension and inequality that exists between the countries north and south of the 38th parallel.

Most of the readings we have been presented with have shown different angles of the common problem in Asia of low fertility/birth rates and an aging population. Being that one of my first memories other than ninjas/samurai of Asia as a small child was the one child rule in China. I thought, "What if I was born in China, would they throw me away or put me in a box and leave me somewhere because I was a girl?" From class lecture, it seems they mistimed their policy and now are attempting to encourage people having children. One thing that i think is being ignored is that as medical technology advances and can sustain life longer, people live longer. They not always live longer under the best of health even if living for a longer period of time is labeled a good thing.

Its interesting that even under the circumstances present, there is reluctance to allow immigrants in and reluctance for they themselves to procreate since conditions are not ideal. Is that not the way people are in general with wanting ot have children when conditions are ideal and they can afford and attend to them. I understand the reason women have stated for not having children with regards to job security and not feeling a need to marry or have children in order to be fulfilled and happy. Its like couples that do not have children are seen as having something missing, nice that they have that ability to not think so. [Edit by="gcamacho on Aug 5, 2:56:18 PM"][/Edit]