13

I think anthropologists could help teachers and educators be better teachers to a diverse array of students in public schools. Anthropologists have a very unbiased and insightful view on different socities and cultures, making them perfect to help teachers with thier diverse students. If the anthropologist could educate teachers on the certain cultures they are knowledgable about, the teachers would have a greater understanding of his or her students. Once you understand your students you can create your curriculum based on how the students learn. If a certain culture of children learn better one way, the teacher should cater thier needs in the class. Because America is the "melting pot" of all different kind of people, educating teachers of all the different cultures would be ideal for the success of the public school systems. Teachers could be put through a program at the end of their schooling put on by educators and anthropologists just for the purpose of understanding students they might have in the future. The main idea is for teachers to have a greater knowledge of cultures and the best way to teach them.

Extra Credit

The book Siddhartha dramatically changed the way I thought about Buddha and Buddhists. It taught me that the main goal is to become enlightnent and fully spiritual, when is not far from what any other religion tries to do. Buddhists try to understand and educate themselves about life, so in the end they can become at peace with everything. They are very peaceful and devoted to their religion. Siddhartha continually was trying to rid himself of wordly ideas and things because it made you less enlightened on what was important. I liked a part in the book where Siddhartha actually meets and talks with Buddha. Buddha was represented as any other normal man would look, having a very soft and nice demeanor, and treating everyone equal. I liked that he wasnt shown as some king needing to be bowed down to. The novel goves a lot of insight and clears up any misconceptions people could have about Buddhism.

12

Reflect on the readings from C&C chapters 11, 13, 17, 37, and 38. Pick three of these to discuss in detail in relationship to the film "Black Gold."
First, based on these case studies and the film, what do you think the relationship is between environmental sustainability, economic development, and human health?
What roles could applied anthropologists play in assisting people in these goals?
And finally, do you think cultural survival is possible with economic development? Why or why not? How could applied anthropologists assist in ensuring cultural survival along with improvement in people's material lives?

Economic development and enviornmental sustainibility has a huge direct impact on many people on our earth, and not just in terms of global warming. The Gurani Indians of Paraguay are faced with the issue of their forests being torn down to make roads and cities. These indians of the forest have lived in thier enviorment and have created techniques to live off the forest in the best way possible. When developers come in and ruin the ecosystems they have taken care of and cultivated over many generations, it turns their whole community upside down. If this same thing were to happen to the coffee growers, there would be nothing for them to grow or any way to provide for their families. When communties rely on something like the forest or coffee beans, it leaves them very vulnerable. The Kayapo Indians of the Amazon face similar problems with development encroaching upon their land. I think we should let these indgineous people of the world continue to live off the land without interference because how they live is extremely pure. If cities and towns were made on their land it would just increase pollution of the earth. Cultural survival isnt really possible with everyone putting up the same cities that serve the same purpose all over the world. If everything is based off our western society the diversity and tradtions will be lost. I think anthropologists can help these situations, especially the problems the Malawi inhabitants have with nutrition. Programs have been set up to provide families with animals to help sustain their family, and in return their children must go to school. I dont see this as interfering with societies like developing. The anthropologists and programs are strictly for betting the people's lives and helping them survive and thrive. Anthropologist could help the coffee farmers of Ethiopia by making education and knowledge about the stocks more readily availible. Something needs to be done about how cheap coffee can be purchased from them because they cannot get out of poverty. These changes would cause upheaval in places around the world because coffee prices would imensely increase, but a compromise needs to be made.