Assignment 4 : Introduction to the History, Economics, and Education of the RMI
Part 1
Visit the listed websites, and view the following photo stories.
These photos tell the story of how life in the Marshalls and Micronesia was lived between 1800 and 1900.
Life 100 Years Ago www.micsem.org/photos/life_100/index.htm
This photo story shows the devastation to the islands during World War II in the Pacific.
Campaign in the Marshalls www.micsem.org/photos/marshalls/index.htm
The U.S. explodes nuclear bombs in the Marshall Islands during the 1950s and the aftermath continues today.
Nuclear Nomads www.micsem.org/photos/nuclear/index.htm
The U.S. military continues to rule the Marshalls after WWII until 1987 when the independent government of the Republic of Marshall Islands was formed.
The 70s: The Revival of Towns www.micsem.org/photos/seventies/index.htm
The women mainly kept to their traditional roles until U.S. aid provided educational opportunities in the 1970s. Many women today are more active in business and government than ever before.
Where Were the Women? www.micsem.org/photos/women/index.htm
Although the educational system is in bad shape compared to American schools, more students than ever are staying in school in order to compete for the small number of jobs available in the islands.
A Brief history of Education in Micronesia www.micsem.org/photos/education/index.htm
Part 2
Do you now have an idea of how the Marshallese people view Americans? The current students you have today have always been dependent on American aid for their schools, health care, and most of their government. The conditions in the Marshall Islands have not changed much since the 70s except, since the War in Iraq, U.S. funding has been significantly reduced. There is no farming or industry to replace the money. The Marshallese people are even more dependent on the U.S. today than they were before they declared their independence in 1987. As their population continues to rise, the number of people who live below the poverty level also continues to rise.
Go to Blackboard and click on the Discussion tab titled History and respond to the following questions. Describe the attitudes you have noticed in your Marshallese students. How do they communicate with one another compared to Americans? Do they treat the staff differently? What are some interesting items you discovered in your web photo investigation? Respond to at least two of your peers’ responses. |
Significance: The deep blue background represents the Pacific Ocean. The white and orange bands represent the Ratak (Sunrise) and Ralik (Sunset) chains, respectively. The customary symbolism of orange as the color of bravery and white as the color of peace are also recognized. The star represents the cross of Christianity, with each of the 24 points signifying a municipal district of the RMI. The four main points represent the major centers of Majuro, Ebeye, Jaluit and Wotje. The official flag is at an aspect ratio of 2:1.