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- December 31, 2008
By: Ken Mammarella, News Journal Editor - Crossroads
Cultural cram
session
Fulbright scholars return from Japan with lots to
share in class
Posted: December
4, 2008
Alita Rumph and Mark Ruiz are back in Delaware, ready to spread
what they learned during their three-week stays in Japan.
The two Appoquinimink School District teachers
were among 16 Fulbright scholars from across the United States who in October
observed the Japanese education system, took part in seminars, lived with
families and explored the country.
Both teachers took hundreds of photos and are
developing plans to share their experiences with students, teachers and the
community at large. But as serious and significant as this all is, one of the
first things that they mentioned in interviews was shoes.
The Japanese traditionally take their shoes off
when entering most buildings. Rumph noted that many people have a pair of
slippers for most of their house and a second pair for the
bathroom.
At school, Ruiz observed bare feet, socks and
slippers. Slipping off your shoes -- as well as bowing to greet the teacher --
are customs that he wants to teach to his art students at Townsend
Elementary.
Rumph, a Dover resident who teaches second
grade at Cedar Lane Elementary in Middletown, noticed big differences between
Japanese and U.S. schools. Students in Japan often eat lunch in their classrooms
-- and the meal is heavy on rice, noodles and cabbage. Students spend 30 to 40
minutes a day cleaning their school to "teach discipline and respect." And most
middle and high school students attend "cram schools" to prepare for college
entry tests.
"Almost every night students in upper grades
spend three hours studying for entrance exams," she said.
The teachers' stint 7,000 miles away meshes with
the district's increasing emphasis on readying students for a global
economy.
"We're working to expand our students'
comprehension of the world around them," Cedar Lane principal Donna Kolakowski
said in a statement.
What's shared from the Fulbright trip will
enhance the work of Pamela Chang, who is in her second year of teaching Japanese
to fourth-graders throughout the district.
Chang, a Middletown resident who is from
Taiwan, said it's important to engage her students about both language and
culture. Sometimes, those elements are entwined. For instance, the Japanese
respect for the elderly is reflected in the language, which uses different
wording depending on the relationship between the speaker and
listener.
"Try to experience as much as possible of other
cultures," said Ruiz, a Dover resident whose parents are from Mexico. "Being
open-minded to other cultures makes us all stronger."
Rumph ticked off a few elements that she wants to
incorporate into class: origami (she brought back Japanese paper and
instructional materials), traditional Japanese games and the history of the
kimono.
Ruiz also wants to work in origami.
Calligraphy, art on scrolls and tea ceremonies are also on his tentative
syllabus. He traveled with Flat Stanley, a literary character who mails himself
to distant destinations, and posted journal entries on www.tespta.com/ruiz
adventures.htm.
While Rumph and Ruiz were in Japan, Rumph's
students were taught by Theresa North, a regular district substitute, and Dianna
Yoder, an inclusion specialist already working with Rumph. Ruiz's students were
handled by graphic artist Zadiki Beaumont, the son of one of his
professors.
Rumph and Ruiz are Delaware natives and
University of Delaware graduates (Ruiz also has certification from Delaware
State University).
Ruiz said that he has "always been interested
in Japanese culture" and was inspired to apply for a Fulbright scholarship after
working as a student teacher at Shields Elementary in Lewes with Bonnie Miller,
who had been a Fulbright scholar in 2004.
Ruiz, 29, said he has been growing bonsai since
he was 15. In his apartment (and brought to school for show and tell), he has
about four good ones and several more in training.
"I would really like to teach bonsai," he said.
"It's a dying art."
Ruiz and Rumph also brought back souvenirs for
their students and for their special someones. Rumph's husband, Christopher,
received a belt with Japanese writing that says "warrior," a track jacket with
Japanese writing that says "saver of money," stickers for his guitar case and
peach-flavored candy. Ruiz's girlfriend Julie Murphy received a kimono that went
with one that he brought back for himself.
Rumph and Ruiz each have less than 10 years'
experience teaching and call themselves lucky to get the scholarship among 1,700
applicants. Before heading to Japan, they each had a single significant trip.
Rumph spent 37 days in South Africa on a mission trip through The Journey, an
Apostolic church in Newark. And Ruiz spent seven weeks studying photography in
New Zealand.
Ruiz said his most memorable experience in
Japan was a day hiking in the mountains near the ancient capital of Kamakura. It
was encapsulated in his encounter with the Buddha Daibusu.
"All this hard work hiking -- you reach the top
and stare at this great Buddha, and you feel so peaceful," he said.
"I am very interested in learning about other
countries and culture," said Rumph, adding that her dream is to "go to every
continent before I die."
"They were so friendly and open to invite us to
their homes," she said of the Japanese. "So kind. So clean. It was just neat to
see all the differences. We thought that were were going to learn from them, but
they said that they wanted to learn from us."
Photograph: Cedar Lane Elementary teacher
Alita Rumph tries on a kimono during her time in Japan. Rumph was one of 16
Fulbright scholars who spent three weeks in Japan observing education methods
and culture.
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