AsiaEdNet News
26 February 2004
In this issue:
1. Notes and news
Values debate makes US media
2. Calendar
Significant dates – February and March 2004
3. Resources
New item
Yin Yu Tang – A Chinese Home
Item of interest
AskAsia Korea
4. Media highlights
Verbatim – Noel Gough
The Spirit of Things– Indian Diary
Reality Bites - Our Boys
5. World media
For Richer or Poorer (Time Asia)
What to wear to school (London Review of Books)
6. Events
Melbourne - Xin Nian - Contemporary Chinese Australian Art at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia
Melbourne - "Get Out There! – Overseas Study Fair"
1. Notes and news
Values debate makes US media
You might be interested to know that the debate about values in Australian schools has been reported in the US-based Christian Science Monitor. It is worth reading the article to see how the issue is being reported overseas. It can be found at http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0224/p12s01-legn.html
2. Calendar
February 2004
28 -29 Great Prayer Festival (Monlam) - Tibet
March 2004
2 Ashura – Islam
8 Commonwealth Day – Celebrating Diversity
17 Cultural Diversity Week –
Victoria
21 International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
21 Harmony Day
3. Resources
Asia EdNet Website Directory
New item
Yin Yu Tang – A Chinese Home
This is a wonderfully colourful and information-rich website. Through moving photographic images and accompanying text, the site allows the user to explore Yin Yu Tang, a late Qing Dynasty merchant’s house, located originally in south-eastern China. Yin Yu Tang was home to eight generations of the Huang family, and was last year re-erected at the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts. The website looks in detail at the construction, ornamentation, belongings and preservation of the house, and provides important information about it’s locality and region. A must see.
Item of interest
Ask Asia Korea
http://www.askasia.org/Korea/
The AskAsia website, of which some of you will be familiar, contains a number of interesting sub-sites including a
new site dedicated to Korea. AskAsia Korea contains news and commentary on Korea from across the globe and offers a crash-course in the Korean language. Most useful, however, is a bank of classroom teaching and learning materials. There is accessible background reading material on topics from Korean geography and the influence of belief on Korean art, to contemporary youth culture and population change and development. There is also a range of well-structured lesson plans on the environment, culture, geography, history and many more.
4. Media highlights
Saturday 28 February, 5.00pm, ABC Radio National (repeated Monday at 5am)
Verbatim – Noel Gough
When he was twenty years of age, Noel Gough left behind Sydney, two girlfriends, a motorbike and level footpaths, to become one of the first workers on the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme.
He spent ten years there, working as an electrical engineer, a power station manager, a search and rescue co-ordinator, and even a real estate agent. Along the way he rubbed shoulders with some of the 100,000 people from the thirty two nationalities who worked on the Snowy, and saw first hand how the scheme played a central part in the re-shaping of a new
multi-cultural Australia.
Sunday 29 February, 6.10pm, ABC Radio National (repeated Thursday at 7.10pm and Friday at 4.05am) The Spirit of Things– Indian Diary
Two Australian travellers, lured to India by its charms and its promise of spiritual fulfilment, share their very different experiences of a land that defies easy description. First travelling the Ashram trail in the 1950s, John Murray has cultivated a deep love for India since his Melbourne youth. Hoping for a restful year former Triple J announcer, Sarah Macdonald, plunged into the wild and sometimes wonderful life of a host of religious communities in India with her eyes wide open. They share their spiritual highs and lows.
Tuesday 2 March, 8.00 pm, ABC Television
Reality Bites - Our Boys
This week Mohamed and Thong, two very different students, are followed through their final year at Canterbury Boys High
5. World media
For Richer or Poorer (Time Asia)
Recent economic growth in India has had benefits for some but not others. This photo essay and accompanying story is set against the background of an Indian general election to be held some time in mid-May. The author argues that, whereas elections in the past have been fought on emotional issues such caste, religion, patriotism or Pakistan, the touchstone issue this time is the economy. While the government is campaigning on the basis of a strong economy and benefits for all, the opposition party Congress, led by Sonia Ghandi, has argued that the spoils of economic growth have been enjoyed by only a small, elite group in Indian society.
What to wear to school (London Review of Books)
A ban on the wearing of all religious symbols in French schools will come into effect in the next few months. The ban includes the Muslim Hijab, or veil, worn by millions of French-Muslim women. It has been an extremely controversial decision. The author ponders whether Muslims will heed the ban, discusses previous policy attempts to deal with the issue, and considers the impact of September 11 on the decision. This is a highly informative article, accessible to both teachers and students.
6. Events
Melbourne
Xin Nian - Contemporary Chinese Australian Art at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia at Federation Square
In conjunction with the exhibition, Xin Nian - Contemporary Chinese Australian Art at The Ian Potter Centre, the NGV Australia is running a series of educational programs for students. They include a Chinese LOTE Study Morning, followed by a tour of the Xin Nian exhibition, a Mandarin language activity and a calligraphy workshop with Paula Wong, one of the exhibiting artists.
When: Friday 5 March 2004
Time: From 10.00am
Where: The Ian Potter Centre, NGV Australia, Federation Square
Cost: $10.00
Information and bookings: Education and Schools Program at the NGV 03-8620-2341
Melbourne
"Get Out There! – Overseas Study Fair"
Come and meet exhibitors offering a wide range of opportunities overseas. Find out more about student and teacher exchange, how to volunteer overseas, study abroad programs and language and cultural tours. Opportunities are available for all groups - students, teachers, academics, retirees and skilled people. An interesting and informative speaker program will run throughout the day. Speakers from a diverse range of backgrounds - from exchange students to academics - will share their experiences with you. The Asia Education Foundation is one of the exhibitors.
This event forms part of the celebrations for International Education Week 2004, an initiative of the Victorian International Education Consultative Group and proudly sponsored by the City of Melbourne.
Visit our website regularly for updates on the speaker program.
When: Saturday 20 March 2004
Time: 10.00am - 4.00pm
Where: Swanston Hall, Melbourne Town Hall
Entry: Free of charge