Cross-Cultural Learning
Articles written about SEAC or by SEAC associates.
Melissa Tuason named tutor of the year for 2018 by The Literacy Volunteers of Illinois (LVI) has been involved with South-East Asia Center for five years. “Melissa possesses exceptional initiative Read More …
Spotlight on Service Award Sarah Poontong of South-East Asia Center (SEAC) was one of ten recipients honored with the “Spotlight on Service Award” presented by Secretary of State Jesse White Read More …
How much does racial prejudice affect elementary classrooms in urban schools, especially the early grades? There is much debate among elementary educators on the answer to that troubling question. Some believe young children are still too innocent to be “corrupted” by America’s racial strife so early in life. Others believe that parent and neighborhood prejudice is quickly absorbed by the children and infuses the classroom from the first day of school. Read More …
In our first newsletter, we explained the new perspective on multicultural education that is being developed by a team of educators at the South-East Asia Center in the Uptown area of Chicago. This newsletter will provide a review of the best multicultural educational resources that were used by the Center’s team to help develop their curriculum for grades 1-3 and 7-8. Read More …
What do the “liberal” Mother Jones and the “conservative” American Legion magazines have in common? Both recently published articles warn of the dangerous role cultural separatists are playing in building chasms between ethnic groups, thereby dividing America. Read More …
The South-East Asia Center is very concerned that traditional multicultural education often unwittingly supports the separatists agenda. The Center strongly believes that we should be developing curriculum that counters this agenda by teaching our children to understand others’ perspectives and through historically accurate histories and better cultural understanding learn to appreciate the power that comes from recognizing common goals and harnessing cooperative action. The Center is developing such a curriculum and teaching it in two Chicago Public schools. Read More …
A class of pre-schoolers in Klamath Falls, Oregon wrote with their teacher one of the best anti-violence reading books for K-3 that we have ever found. The Land of Many Colors evolved during the Persian Gulf war because the preschoolers had many questions about war due to family members and friends involvement. Read More …
At first glance SEAC’s model multicultural curriculum targetting children in the multiethnic Uptown-Edgewater’s McCutcheon and Goudy Schools, seems not to be all that out of the ordinary. Curriculum focuses on developing self-esteem, positive social interaction skills and cooperation skills with a goal of ultimately more peaceful, productive classrooms and society. Students examine prejudice, stereotyping, discrimination, victimization, conflict resolution, peer pressure, goal setting, problem solving, parenting, values, teamwork, communication and life skills all geared, of course, to age level. Read More …
Holiday celebration can be fun, multiculturally educational and legal — as far as separation of church and state.
Christmas carols, for instance, can easily be turned into multicultural lessons. Children can feel they are participating in the spirit of the season while teachers can feel they are abiding by the law and teaching lessons with a virtuous, yet non-sectarian theme. Read More …
Building Bridges of Compassion, Understanding & Cooperation. Finding success, happiness, harmony, and understanding with many kinds of people.
South-East Asia Center (SEAC) is a multi-ethnic service organization. The Center’s apolitical, non-sectarian, cross-cultural approach is welcoming to people of all countries of origin, ethnicities, religions, beliefs, colors, and classes. Read More …
“Me no crazy” Tragedy and Triumph David Tom, a Chinese immigrant, made international headlines in 1983 by being freed after spending 31 years inside Illinois mental health institutions. Mr. Tom’s Read More …