The Value of Eduaction in Micronesia Education
Value Of Education In Micronesia Education
Education has been an affluential force in the recent history of Micronesia. For the past fifty years, it has responsible for opening better living opportunities for many of the islands' people. From its beginnings in religious lessons to its boom in the 1970s, education has been labeled a prominent must-have for any person aspiring to be a respected citizen in Micronesia. However, the present-day islands are exposed to a number of factors, such as technological advancements and job prospects abroad, that have brought about a change in life choices and education values in the islands. While education has been considered an important attribute throughout Micronesian history, the current generation is adapting a quickness to disregard it for other opportunities thus degrading it to the level of an ill-respected feature of the past. It continues to be an important part in the achievement of a better lifestyle, but what is the purpose of education in today's Micronesian society?
In Micronesia, the roots of education can be traced to a well-known cultural practice known as oral tradition. Oral tradition is defined as the “verbal messages which are reported statements from the past beyond the present generation (Vansina 28).” In other words, information regarding a particular culture or group of people (society) is passed from the old to the young via verbal methods such as storytelling, chanting, singing, etc. According to an article entitled “Oral Traditions and Archaeology in Micronesia: An Attempt to Study Past Ideology in a Built Environment” written by Rita Olsudong, oral tradition in Micronesian history “finds norms that govern...the proper methods and protocols.” For example, the brother of a woman is responsible for his nephew's knowledge of male responsibilities (in Palauan culture). The uncle may teach his nephew the ways of a man by sharing his life experiences through casual, afternoon talks and
Education has been an affluential force in the recent history of Micronesia. For the past fifty years, it has responsible for opening better living opportunities for many of the islands' people. From its beginnings in religious lessons to its boom in the 1970s, education has been labeled a prominent must-have for any person aspiring to be a respected citizen in Micronesia. However, the present-day islands are exposed to a number of factors, such as technological advancements and job prospects abroad, that have brought about a change in life choices and education values in the islands. While education has been considered an important attribute throughout Micronesian history, the current generation is adapting a quickness to disregard it for other opportunities thus degrading it to the level of an ill-respected feature of the past. It continues to be an important part in the achievement of a better lifestyle, but what is the purpose of education in today's Micronesian society?
In Micronesia, the roots of education can be traced to a well-known cultural practice known as oral tradition. Oral tradition is defined as the “verbal messages which are reported statements from the past beyond the present generation (Vansina 28).” In other words, information regarding a particular culture or group of people (society) is passed from the old to the young via verbal methods such as storytelling, chanting, singing, etc. According to an article entitled “Oral Traditions and Archaeology in Micronesia: An Attempt to Study Past Ideology in a Built Environment” written by Rita Olsudong, oral tradition in Micronesian history “finds norms that govern...the proper methods and protocols.” For example, the brother of a woman is responsible for his nephew's knowledge of male responsibilities (in Palauan culture). The uncle may teach his nephew the ways of a man by sharing his life experiences through casual, afternoon talks and