Two honored as outstanding global teachers
By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer
They teach different students on different islands, one at a public school, the other at a private one.
Handout photos
But what Rae Takemoto and Jonathan Yorck have in common is exactly what they're trying to teach: to respect and appreciate what makes people so different.
Rae Takemoto
Jonathan Yorck
Both teachers were named Hawaii's Outstanding Global Teachers for 2002 by the East-West Center this week, proclaimed Hawaii International Education Week. They were honored for integrating global education in their curriculum.
Takemoto, a third-grade teacher at Kula Elementary School on Maui, has been incorporating cultural education into her curriculum since she started teaching 16 years ago.
"Every unit and lesson I teach goes back to cultural diversity, learning about each other's culture and developing an appreciation," said Takemoto, 39, who uses music, dance, drama and art to enhance her global lesson plans. "I find that when you integrate the arts, especially in social studies, it deepens the children's understanding. And what's the best way to learn about culture than with objects and arts?"
Takemoto's students learn about cultural holidays, such as Hanukkah, and historical conflicts, such as the present-day dispute between Palestinians and Israel. She's convinced no global topic is too difficult for students to comprehend, as long as they have a personal understanding of the country's culture.
She has noticed that hands-on activities and in-depth research help students retain and appreciate what they've learned.
"Not only is retention higher but the depth of understanding, too," Takemoto said. "Without that, you can't really create appreciation. It's one thing to cover a topic; it's another to explore it."
Her enthusiasm for global education is obvious to her colleagues, who admire her commitment and creativity.
"She challenges the students to use their talents to work at what they're good at," said Ann Ashley, a teacher at Kula Elementary School who has known Takemoto for eight years. "She focuses on building self-esteem and being creative. She's very energetic."
Yorck, a kindergarten teacher at Punahou School, has built the entire school year around his travels.
The 55-year-old has taken every opportunity to travel and learn about different cultures, from Germany to China to Australia. He spent last summer in Thailand and Vietnam, two countries he has introduced to his students this year.
His lesson plan incorporates the culture and history of different countries into the usual subjects of math, science and language arts. The students count in German, read Vietnamese children's stories and learn about monsoons and rice cultivation. He uses technology, in particular the Internet, to enhance his lessons. His students even communicate electronically with an elementary school in Germany.
Teaching young children about these cultural differences may help them be more open-minded and accepting of diversity, which is inevitable in today's global community, Yorck said.
"It's about exposing the kids to the world," said Yorck, who has been teaching at Punahou for 23 years. "The global experience teaches them that people are different but living in the same world."
Reach Catherine E. Toth at 535-8103 or ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com.
