Tibet Programs and Projects

The page below is ARCHIVED information related to a past initiative of Global Source Education, the parent organization of EduCulture. Though these are not current projects of EduCulture, we feel there are valuable resources and information for educational purposes.

TIBET PROGRAMS and PROJECTS

Since 1995, TEN has been developing a series of intensive teacher education institutes and regional professional development workshops across the US. TEN has worked with a wide range of organizations and institutions to create authentic, inclusive, and educational programs of the highest quality. Our programs have featured a myriad of leaders, scholars, experts, tradition bearers and members of local Tibetan communities. They have provided participants with an integrated and interdisciplinary series of curricular ideas, a starter library of teaching materials, and a broad network of resources.

Highlights of Professional Development Programs

Compassion and Cultural Survival, TEN’s First National Teacher Institute on the Study of Tibet in K-12 Education, hosted at the Year 2000 Smithsonian Folklife Festival: Tibetan Culture Beyond the Land of Snows, Washington, DC

Wednesday, June 28-Sunday, July 2, 2000, 9am-5:30pm

Co Presented by:

The Conservancy for Tibetan Art and Culture

The Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage

 Experience the largest celebration of Tibetan Culture ever held in the West

Dialogue with Tibet Experts & Scholars, and Tibetan Artists, Artisans, Monks & Nuns

Shape a Curriculum on the Study of Tibet

Share and Learn with Fellow Educators from Across the United States

Themes:

– Introduction to Tibet (Geography, History, Culture, Civilization, World View, Current Situation, Demystifying Tibet)

– The Tibetan Diaspora

– Tibetan Buddhism, Monastic Art and Ritual

– Tibetan Theater and Dance

– Tibetan Artisans and Healers

– Tibetan Cultural Survival

– The Fourteenth Dalai Lama

– Multiple Perspectives of Tibet

– Tibet in the 21st Century

– Approaching the Study of Tibet: Themes, Concepts, Sources, Curricula

 

Program Itinerary (Abridged):

Wednesday, June 28, Smithsonian

Tibetan Identity in The Diaspora: A Panel Discussion with First Generation Tibetan-North Americans featuring Nortso Gyaltsong–Students for a Free Tibet, Nyenchen Thanglha Dance Troupe; Tashi Gyaltsong–Students for a Free Tibet, Nyenchen Thanglha Dance Troupe; Lhadon Tethong–Students for a Free Tibet; Dadon Tethong–Milarepa Fund; Tenzin Dhonthog–International Campaign for Tibet, Nyenchen Thanglha Dance Troupe

Tibetan National Identity and Sino-Tibetan Relations: A Conversation with Warren Smith, Independent Scholar (Washington, DC); Research Historian, Tibetan Service, Radio Free Asia; and author of Tibetan Nation

Inside Tibet: A Conversation with Steven Marshall, Independent Researcher (Washington, DC) and author of Hostile Elements, Tibet Outside the TAR (CD Rom, The Alliance for Research in Tibet), and Tibet Since 1950

Thursday, June 29, Smithsonian

Life as a Tibetan Nomad and Escaping Tibet: A Conversation with Tinley Gyasto, Exiled Tibetan

Student NGOs, Tibet and the United States: A Conversation with Mary Beth Markey, Director of Government Relations, International Campaign for Tibet

Tibetan Struggle for Survival: A Conversation with Ken Knaus, former CIA Officer, Tibet Mission; author of Orphans of the Cold War; and Associate, Fairbank Center for East Asian Research, Harvard University

Friday, June 30, Smithsonian and National Mall

Tibetan Culture Beyond the Land of Snows: The Making of a Festival (Part1): A Conversation with Greg Kruglak, Executive Director, Conservancy for Tibetan Art and Culture

Tibetan Culture Beyond the Land of Snows: The Making of a Festival (Part 2): A Conversation with Richard Kennedy, Deputy Director, Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Festival

Buddhist Discourse by Sogyal Rinpoche, Tibetan Lama; Spiritual Director of RIGPA; author of Tibetan Book of Living and Dying

Saturday, July 1, Smithsonian and National Mall

Compassion from a Tibetan Buddhist Perspective: A Talk by Thubten Jampa

An Introduction to the Monlam Chemo (Great Prayer Festival): A Conversation with Geshe Lobsang Tenzin, Festival Presenter and Director of The Drepung Loseling Institute

The Story of a Tibetan Nun: A Conversation with Ani Choying Drolma, Festival Presenter, founder of Nuns Welfare Foundation and Ayra Tara School and vocal artist, Cho (Rykodisc)

Group Question & Answer Session with Tashi Dhondup and Sonam Tashi of Chaksampa

Sunday, July 2, Smithsonian and National Mall [Festival Event]

A Public Talk by His Holiness the Dalai Lama

A Conversation with Robert Thurman, Professor of Indo-Tibetan Studies, Columbia University; Founder and President of Tibet House, New York

 

Landscapes and Lessons of Cultural Survival, TEN’s second Teacher Institute on the Study of Tibet in K-12 Education, in New York, NYJuly 9-13, 2001

 Why:

Landscapes and Lessons of Cultural Survival was a professional development program designed to offer K-12 educators the topical content and global context to bring the study of Tibet into their classrooms, while encouraging integrated teaching practices such as cultural studies, cross-cultural learning, arts education, and human rights education. This Institute presented a mosaic of leading voices on Tibet as well as presentations focusing on a variety of Tibet related topics and issues relevant to K-12 education. The program explored the educational and cultural issues facing Tibetans in Tibet and the Diaspora. There was also be a special focus on meeting the needs of ethnic, immigrant, and refugee students.

Where:

New York, NY

In an attempt to introduce local and out-of-town teachers to the wealth of living Tibetan resources in New York and to the geography of the Manhattan, the Institute was hostedeach day in different locations:

– American Museum of Natural History

– New York Association for New Americans (NYANA)

– Tibet House US

– Offices of Rubin Museum of Art

– Nicholas Roerich Museum

– Tibet on Houston

Whom:

The Institute was open to professionals and volunteers in K-12 education, including teachers in the Social Studies, Humanities, and Arts, administrators, curriculum specialists, museum educators, community educators, and activists. This program was especially valuable to ESL instructors and educators who work with Tibetan youth, and other immigrant and refugee students. (Space is Limited)

With:

This program was presented with support from the Raynier Institute and Foundation, in cooperation with New York Association of New Americans, American Museum of Natural History, Rubin Museum of Art, Tibet House US, Tibet on Houston and the many other organizations involved with our session presentations including: Office of Tibet New York, Tibet Fund, Human Rights Watch, Himalayan & Inner Asia Resources (HIAR), Students for a Free Tibet, and Milarepa Fund. Support for Starter Library Package from Harper Collins, Parallax Press, Tibet in Exile Video Project, and Small Changes.

History:

This was the sixteenth professional development program in an ongoing national series presented by Tibet Education Network at Global Source. Since 1995, TEN has directly served over 600 educators, more than 150 schools, and numerous communities across the US. In the summer of 2000, at the Smithsonian Folkife Festival, Tibetan Culture Beyond the Land of Snows, in conjunction with Smithsonian Institution and the Conservancy for Tibetan Art and Culture, TEN led the first ever national teacher institute on the study of Tibet in K-12 education.

 Session Topics and Themes Include:

Understanding Tibet in a Global Context

Human Rights in Tibet

Modern Tibetan History

Cultural Survival in the Tibetan Diaspora

The Tibetan Exile & Refugee Experience

Tibetan Youth and Identity

The Fourteenth Dalai Lama

Tibetan Buddhism

Tibetan Art in a Cross-Cultural Context

Modern Tibetan Literature

The Case of Panchen Lama

Book Talks

Video Screenings

Curricular Presentations

Curricular Planning

Program Itinerary: Sunday, July 8

Tibetan Festival (Optional) at Battery Park

Special Guided Tour Arranged for Institute Participants, visit the Zamling Chisang Tibetan Festival website or call 212- 898-4108 for more information.

    Monday, July 9

An Introduction to Tibet and the Modern Tibetan Experience

Hosted at American Museum of Natural History

Approaching The Study of Modern Tibet in K-12 Education, Jon Garfunkel, Director, Tibet Education Network (TEN) at Global Source

A Conversation with Nawang Rabgyal, Representative of H.H. the Dalai Lama, Office of Tibet, NY

Tour of the American Museum of Natural History’s Tibetan Exhibit with Karen Kane

Learning about The Fourteenth Dalai Lama, Tashi Gyaltsong, Tibet Education Network (TEN) at Global Source

The Tibetan Diaspora, Rinchen Dharlo, Tibet Fund

Human Rights in Tibet, Mickey Spiegel, Human Rights Watch

 Tuesday, July 10

The Tibetan Experience of Exile and Diaspora

Hosted at New York Association for New Americans (NYANA)

Our Journey from Tibet, Reading and Discussion

Tibet In Exile, a film by Barbara Banks and Meg McLagan, Video and Discussion

The Architecture of US Tibetan Resettlement, Mark Handleman, Executive Vice President, NYANA

Tibetan Identity: A Generation in Exile, Tashi Gyaltsong, Tibet Education Network, Deyden Tethong, Milarepa Fund, and Lhadon Tethong, Students for a Free Tibet

Lessons from a Tibetan Sunday School, Pema Dorjee, Nechung Foundation with Students

Wednesday, July 11

Tibetan Buddhism, Culture and Art

Hosted at Tibet House US, Offices of Rubin Museum of Art, and Tibet on Houston

A Tour and Conversation with Ganden Thurman, Tibet House U.S.

The Tibetan Art of Healing, Tibet House Exhibit of Tibetan Medical Paintings with Tashi Gyaltsong, Tibet Education Network (TEN) at Global Source and Tibetan Medical Astrologer and Doctor Jampa Callusing

Integrating Art, Visual Literacy, and Cross-Cultural Learning, Ben Brinkley, Rubin Museum of Art Tibetan

Tibetan Tangka Paintings: A Tour of the Rubin Museum of Art Collection

An Introduction to the Virtual World of Tibet, Jon Garfunkel, Tibet Education Network at Global Source

Taste of Tibet: Tibetan Cuisine and Cultural Heritage, Buffet and Reception

Thursday, July 12

The Tibetan Literary Tradition, Curricular Planning & Library Time

Hosted at Nicolas Roerich Museum

The Literary Traditions of Modern Tibet, Pema Bhum, Director, HIAR

Examining a Tibetan Humanities: From Tibet, to the Diaspora and the West, Sonam Dargyay, Librarian, HIAR

Education aned Development in Tibet, Staff from Trace Foundation

Reflection and Curricular Discussion

A Survey of ChildrenÕs Literature on Tibet, Jon Garfunkel, Tibet Education Network

Friday, July 13

Voices of Action and a Taste of Tibet

Hosted at Tibet on Houston

The Case of the Panchen Lama

Engaging Youth, Representative, Students for a Free Tibet; Andrew Bryson, Milarepa Fund; and Josh Schrei, Milarepa Fund

Special Tibetan Feast, with culinary presentation by Losang Gyatso

Tibet in Your Classroom, Closing and Evaluation

Tuition, Credit, and Registration Information:

Through the generous support of contributions and grants, we were able to offer this program at a significantly reduced tuition: $295 before June 18, $320 after June 18

Participants were responsible for their own transportation and accommodations. They were eligible to earn 2-5 continuing education credits (additional fee for credits). Participants receive an extensive 360 page course handbook and starter library package on Tibet, including titles such as “In Exile from the Land of Snows” by John Avedon, “Our Journey from Tibet”, by Laurie Dolphin and Nancy Jo Johnson, and “The 14th Dalai Lama,” by Whitney Stewart. To order this starter libary package, go to the Global Source Catalog.

Here is what participants from the Institute said about their experience:

“This was an amazing professional development experience! I have taken numerous graduate classes and workshops in my eleven years of teaching this was one of the best, if not the best! Jon, Tashi, Thinley, and Larry were very welcoming and knowledgeable. We were introduced to an incredible array of resources on the Tibetan issue, as well as many teaching ideas and materials. I also appreciated the opportunity to share with other educators and to reflect on my own teaching practice.” -Teacher, Edison High School, MN

“The network of experts willing to share is outstanding. Well-rounded lists of topics, materials, resources are well researched. The addition of personal experiences is what makes the program unique.” -Teacher, Conrad Weiser Middle School, PA

“I felt this was my ideal institute. With 8 years of professional development and teaching, this was the ideal blend of content, curriculum, authentic voices, and sharing. It was very well organized with an incredibly complex agenda and several venues. The staff made themselves readily available to the participants who came from all over the US. The multiple repeaters speak to the satisfaction of the participants. New York offered many unique opportunities-student activists, important political and social leaders, a cultural festival, and Tibetans who represented the scholarship and cultural resources whose survival the institute was dedicated to.” -Teacher Educator, American Museum of Natural History, NY

“The Institute was extraordinarily well organized. The content was rich. Each session offered additional valuable perspectives, information, and resources. The presenters were well informed and approachable. Jon, your facilitation was a model of great teaching practice with the time devoted to reviewing, applying, extending, sharing, and planning. I was deeply impressed by the use of the many locations in NYC for our study experience.”  -Teacher, Field School, MN

“My impressions are that this is one of the most thorough, organized, sensitive, even profound series of classes-workshop I have ever attended.” – Educator, TCV Tibetan History Book Project

“This journey for the past week has given me a glimpse (snapshot) of the land, culture, and people. Through this short time, I have experienced a thoroughfare of emotions: happiness, sadness, pain. This experience has not only educated me on the specifics but has also brought me as a fellow human being closer to the spirit of those who have lived to tell history. The organization and thoughtful planning were apparent and allowed the group to see and experience many things. Greatly appreciated.” – Teacher, Edison High School, MN

“This Institute superceded my expectations. I anticipated a stimulating experience but somehow I feel the actual experience of the Institute was a transformative one. I wish to praise Global Source Education for the superb organization of materials, speakers, events, etc. More importantly, beyond the educational value of the composite experience, was a feeling, an essence of fellow-feeling that seeped into each day and the total 5 day experience. Thank you.” -Teacher, Commack Road Elementary, NY

“This institute, as was last years, was a very rich experience in terms of the speakers telling their stories, giving detailed information; exchanges, and most of all Jon’s facilitation of the whole process, and his teaching was phenomenal.” – MA Ed, ESL Educator

“Once again, I am astounded by the bread and depth of the Institute session materials, and presentations. The organization and delivery are truly impressive.” – ESL Teacher, Field School, MN

 

Tibet and The Dalai Lama: Landscapes and Lessons of Cultural Survival, A Special Workshop for Educators in Advance of the Dalai Lama’s visit to Portland, OR

Saturday, March 17, 2001

For one day we learned about Tibet from Northwest Tibetans, scholars and specialists, and to discuss with this topic with fellow educators.

Presented in cooperation with Northwest Tibetan Cultural Association and Pathways to Peace.

Morning Plenary Session Topics and Themes:

– Tibetan Civilization and Culture

– The Current Tibetan Situation

– Tenzin Gyatso, The 14th Dalai Lama

– The Tibetan Exile Experience

– The Northwest Tibetan Community

Planned Afternoon Breakout Sessions:

– Tibet and the Buddhist Tradition

– The Arts of Tibet

– The Tibet-China Conflict

– Human Rights in Tibet

– Tibetan Youth Panel

– The Study of Tibet in Your Classroom

Registration fee is $45. Workshop participants will receive Approaching Tibetan Studies: A Resource Handbook for K-12 Education, books, lessons, support materials for the classroom, and a resource list for the Dalai Lama’s visit to Portland. Tibetan lunch provided. There will be a door prize for two tickets to see An Evening with The Dalai Lama. Registrations must be received at least three days prior to the event.

For information on Portland Events with The Dalai Lama: www.nwtca.org

Generous support for this workshop has also been provided by Catlin Gabel School.

 

Tibet and The Dalai Lama: From the Real World to the Classroom, A Special Workshop for Educators in Advance of the Dalai Lama’s visit to the Twin Cities, MN

Saturday, March 10, 2001

 Join us for a day to learn about Tibet from Tibetans in the Twin Cities, scholars and specialists, and to discuss this topic with fellow educators. Presented with Minneapolis Public Schools, in cooperation with the Human Rights Resource Center at University of Minnesota Law School.

Where:

Human Rights Resource Center, Classroom 40, University of Minnesota Law School (west bank of campus), 229 19th Avenue South, Minneapolis

Morning Plenary Session Topics and Themes:

– Tibetan Civilization and Culture

– The Current Tibetan Situation

– Tenzin Gyatso, The 14th Dalai Lama

– The Tibetan Exile Experience

– The Twin Cities Tibetan Community

Afternoon Breakout Sessions:

– Tibet and the Buddhist Tradition

– The Arts of Tibet

– The Tibet-China Conflict

– Human Rights in Tibet

– Tibetan Youth Panel

– The Study of Tibet in Your Classroom

Illuminating the Buddhist Tradition, A Workshop for Educators on Learning and Teaching about Buddhism.

Saturday, February 12, 8:00-3:30

 (General Public Invited)

University of Washington, Seattle Campus, Thomson Hall

Morning Plenary Sessions

Professor Charles Keyes (UW Anthropology and International Studies), charted the evolution of Buddhism in Asia, drawing on examples from Southeast Asian Buddhist traditions

Professor Richard Salomon (UW South Asian and Buddhist Studies) told the story of his recovery of ancient scrolls: “Bark of the Buddha: Ancient Scrolls Reveal Buddhist History”

Buddhist Teachers, including Venerable Thubten Chodron (Dharma Friendship Foundation), Genjo Marinello (Dai Bai Zan Cho Bo Zen Ji) and Reverend Don Castro (Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple) highlighted key tenets of Buddhist Philosophy and Practice

Afternoon Breakout Sessions

Scholar and Educator Jeff Schoening (UW Tibetan Studies and Sakya Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism) brought Buddhist philosophy alive through the understanding the Wheel of Life

Venerable Thubten Chodron, (Dharma Friendship Foundation) discussed and teach skills for Meditation, with special suggestions for meditating with young people

Educator Jon Garfunkel (Global Source) shared creative ways to bring the Study of Buddhism into K-12 education

Curriculum Specialist Mary Barber (Issaquah School District) shared Buddhist Literature for Young People and the Classroom

Associate Professor Kent Guy (UW International Studies) discussed the Rise of Buddhism in Ancient China

Jeff Schoening, (Sakya Monastery) and Reverend John Iwohara (Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple) and others discussed Buddhism in the Northwest

Student Programs and Projects

TEN develops and leads interactive and experiential programs, classroom presentations, student workshops, units of study, and independent study projects for students in grades K-12.

• The Arts of Tibet, curricular & professional development and design of children’s activity center for the Seattle International Children’s Festival, 1997

• Tibetan Portrait, professional and curricular development for the photographic exhibit by Phil Borges at the Museum of History and Industry, Seattle, 1997

• Sakya Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism, educational tours and programs for school groups in greater Seattle

• School and classroom presentations, tailored to setting, grade level, focus of study.

• Independent study projects with middle and high school students.

Community Education

TEN works with Tibetan communities, cultural organizations, and other Tibet-related organizations to design and produce cultural programs, exhibitions, children’s activities for museums and festivals, and companion. TEN also presents educational presentations for colleges and community groups on various Tibet related subjects, including travel in Tibet.

Special Projects

In 2001-2002, Tibet Education Network at Global Source partnered with the Conservancy for Tibetan Art and Culture (CTAC) on a first of its kind research project titled Cultural Survival: The Home-School Connection for Tibetan Youth in North America: A Case Study on Education, Cultural Identity and Community. Global Source Director, Jon Garfunkel led the year long project and authored the report.