English
The Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education (SPICE): Serving as a Bridge Between Stanford and Schools
Gary Mukai Director,SPICE Institute for International Studies http://spice.stanford.edu
The Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education (SPICE) serves as a bridge between Stanford University and K-14 schools by developing multidisciplinary curriculum materials on international themes. As a program of the Institute for International Studies, SPICE reflects the scholarship of Stanford University in its curricula and professional development seminars for teachers. The curricula and seminars focus primarily on contemporary issues in the context of their cultural and historical underpinnings. Since 1976 SPICE has supported efforts to internationalize elementary and secondary school curricula by linking the research and teaching at Stanford University to the schools through the production of curriculum materials on international and cross-cultural topics. SPICE draws upon the diverse faculty and programmatic interests of Stanford University to link knowledge, inquiry, and practice in curriculum materials. Extensive curriculum development has been done on Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the former Soviet Union. SPICE's offerings on Japan and U.S.-Japan relations are extensive. Popular offerings include Hiroshima: Perspectives on the Atomic Bombing, The Media in U.S.-Japan Relations: A Look at Stereotypes, and the Social Fabric of Japan: Case Studies of Selected Minority Groups. SPICE also offers curriculum on U.S. history, e.g., Civil Rights and Japanese-American Internment. A complete listing of curriculum can be found on the SPICE website, http://spice.stanford.edu. The SPICE staff conducts teacher professional development seminars for teachers in the United States and at independent schools in Asia and works directly with students at the pre-collegiate level. Last year, a seminar was conducted at the American School in Japan for middle and high school teachers. This year, SPICE has begun the development of a program called the Reischauer Scholars Program. Named after the former ambassador to Japan, the Reischauer Scholars Program will annually select 20 exceptional high school juniors and seniors from throughout the United States to engage in an intensive study of Japan. Selected students will participate in an Internet-mediated course on Japan from February to June-with the first course being offered in 2004. Facilitated by SPICE Curriculum Specialist Waka Takahashi Brown, the Internet-mediated course will provide students with a broad overview of Japanese history, literature, religion, art, politics/economics, and will have a special focus on the U.S.-Japan relationship. Top scholars, leading diplomats, and young professionals will provide digitized lectures to students as well as engage them in dialogue on-line. These lectures and discussions will be woven into the overall curriculum that will provide students with reading materials and assignments. As noted on the Stanford Japan Center's website, "The extent of Japan's international influence in socio-cultural, political economic, and security matters indicates an important need for individuals who can place Japanese activities and achievements in their context and accurately convey their meaning and significance to others." The Stanford Japan Center in Kyoto was created to cultivate the knowledge and skills required for these tasks. In a similar way, SPICE aims to cultivate knowledge and skills in younger students on issues facing Japan and other countries and regions of the world. It is SPICE's hope that high school students introduced to SPICE curriculum and programs will be inspired to study at institutions such as the Stanford Japan Center in Kyoto in the future.