Jakarta - The class was uncommonly lively on Monday. Instead of studying their regular subjects like math and natural science, some 20 fourth graders from High Scope Indonesia School on Jl. TB Simatupang, South Jakarta, had a class on the island province of Bangka-Belitung.
The classroom was decorated in the cultural goods of Bangka-Belitung, including traditional costumes and music instruments.
"Can anyone tell me why people in Bangka-Belitung build their houses on stilts?" asked the teacher.
"I know! I know!" the students answered, with one of them adding, "It‘s in anticipation of floods!"
"No, floods were not a threat in the past," the teacher said patiently. "There are two reasons. First, to protect themselves from wild animals and second, so they can raise animals like chickens beneath the house."
The students seemed quite satisfied with his answer, with some of them asking questions and discussing it among themselves.
The teacher described other characteristics of the province -- one of Indonesia‘s 33 provinces -- such as the people‘s traditional weapons, farming tools, music instruments and dances.
The special class is a part of High Scope School‘s "Indonesian Cultural Week" program, which takes place from Nov. 12 to 16.
Around 600 High Scope students from kindergarten to ninth grade are taking part in the program. High Scope is home to more than 800 students from preschool to high school.
Each classroom is decorated in a different province‘s cultural wares, and teachers have integrated the course into their regular curricula.
The school invites guest speakers to present Indonesia‘s different cultures, including visitors from the Indonesian Stamp Museum and the National Development Planning Board, who will talk to students about the potential and challenges of each province.
"We hope that by knowing the richness of our cultures and the efforts made by each province to develop, the students will be proud of being Indonesians and do their best to develop this country in the future," said High Scope assistant principal Etika Hia.
Etika added the cultural week is the fifth one held since High Scope was established in 1996.
"We have to instill an awareness of the richness of our culture to students as early as possible. This is just one of the ways."
Source: www.thejakartapost.com (14 November 2007)
