Chinese high school in China - (1901-2000)

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

When I consider the 20th century (1901-2000) in the United States, there are five historical events that I must cover in the lesson plan.

The first issue I would address is the enslavement of African-Americans which many African-Americans consider as the African Holocaust; there have been many throughout history, but the African Holocaust proceeds that of the WWII Holocaust eventhough it has not been widely documented and there are no survivors to recount the events of that time. African-Americans are the only people group who suffered this experience and it is NOT as some say, "feudalism" or "forced immigration". These terms minimize the horrific conditions that African-Americans faced at that time. Their fight for freedom almost two centuries later, ended in as late as 1903, but their continued struggle for equal rights would eventually lead to the 1964 Civil Rights Acts from which all people, regarless of race, benefit.

China did not invent mass production. The Industrial Revolution in America followed in the footsteps of Europe's Industrial Revolution and would lead the way to the invention of machines which allowed simultaneous production of clothes and other items. It is an important chapter in American history which spanned approximately 20 years. We in China are experiencing an Asian Industrial Revolution within a matter of five to ten years. Working conditions, workers rights and pay in China often mirror that of the Industrial Revolution in America. China's Industrial Revolution, with all its ills, has spawed a growing middle class in China just as it did in America.

Two world wars must be addressed as economic, social, cultural, and political conflict culminated in WWI and WWII. WWI was qucikly followed by WWII. Historians in America opine that the "war machine" (e.g., making machines, weapons, and military accessories) brought America out of The Great Depression. Large-scale protracted wars often lead to voluntary mass immigration as civilians flee conflict zones.

Into the 20th century, America remained (largely) a patriachal society; women fought for both voting rights and civil rights in the midst of a rapidly changing America: two world wars, increased immigration, and changing societal views about women's role in society.

Finally, I would conclude the lesson about America with the Digital Age of the Internet and the responsibility it entails. Our Digital Age is somewhat protracted in mainland China as we do not have total (democratic) Internet access. However, we Chinese still make the best of our Internet usage by emailing and texting. Once capitalism became more accessible to Chinese people, our level of expectation increased as we too could acquire goods from abroad. and an overdeveloped sence of entitlement among children born in the 1990s. The instant gratification of faster downloads and high speed Internet has connected us globally, but has also made us more impatient as the younger generation expect everything to be instantaneous.

2) Five things that someone needs to know about America today, 2011. Chinese high school in China.

In 2011, here are a few of the things that Chinese students need to know about America today.

Social media connects everyone as does the Internet and the smartphones which make international dialing easy. However, we still struggle with stereotyping of different ethnic groups.

More American universities have opened sister campuses in China and there are more projects funded by the United States Department of State to promote American culture and the American English language. Universities actively "court" Chinese and other Asian students for their undergraduate and graduate programs as more high schools offer Chinese as an essential part of language departments.

In America millions of people do not have healthcare. For many, paying healthcare premiums on their own means the difference between eating or delaying visits to the doctor.

The protracted economic recession has dwarfed our middle class of earners which drives many Americans to seek work abroad. Many non-Chinese international job seekers see China as an alternative job market for their skills.

[Anonymous]

Here are my 5 things to introduce to Chinese high school students:

1. The US Constitution
2. Two waves of immigration
3. Chinese immigration and laws developed from there
4. China-US relations
5. Chinese students (graduate) in Southern California

Qin

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