Way back in October I e-mailed my college president, Dr. William Durden, asking for any general advice in our education efforts here in Pohnpei. While he provided plenty of great advice the quote that stands out in my mind is “Reform must come from within and cannot be imposed.” I took this to heart and throughout our efforts to reform the education system on Pohnpei, I have been constantly searching for how we can motivate the students, teachers and administration to excel. We have informed the students of their extraordinary position of privilege, talked with teachers about their struggles and paths to improvement, and reported to administrators the severe deficiencies we have found in the classroom. Ultimately though, I’m still left wondering what we can do to encourage the majority of the locals to improve the education system. We can help in many ways but as Dr. Durden wisely noted, we can’t force motivation upon them.
I have learned firsthand the need to understand a people before you can “change” them in any way, shape or form. You don’t have to go that far back in Pohnpeian history to see that their current lifestyle is vastly different from the past. Before the white man ever arrived on island, the Pohnpeians were largely living a very comfortable life. They didn’t work a 9-5 job, doing the same thing every day of the workweek. Instead, they were mostly sustenance farmers, living off the land. Pohnpei is known as the “Garden Island” of Micronesia. All three other states of the FSM, Yap, Chuuk and Kosrae, have more difficulties in growing food and have to worry about water collection. Food is abundant in Pohnpei and water is one of the least of their concerns.
A few examples illustrating Pohnpei’s “Garden Island” title:
What we’re ultimately trying to do here in Pohnpei is not just reform the education system, but influence the culture so that reform is possible. As Dr. Durden noted, our real challenge is “cultural resistance and cultural change.” How does one begin to change a culture? Is that a desirable goal in the first place? The fact is that much of Pohnpei’s culture has been lost due to the pervasive Western influence. Many of their traditions have not been completely lost, but perverted. A great example of this is sakau. Previously, sakau was a ceremonial drink that was only drank by the high traditional leaders on very special occasions. Now it is drank by over 70% of the islanders daily.
It’s crystal clear that it is ridiculously difficult to reform a culture and the deeply entrenched institutions that lie therein. Given this, I have sought to influence individuals, believing that if even one student is positively impacted by my being here, my time will have been well spent. Institutions and certainly a culture are simply too large to tackle, especially in the short-term. While the vision of grand change might be admirable and worth seeking, at the end of the day what we’re seeking to change are individuals. Only the local people can shape their culture. Indeed, reform must come from within.
I have learned firsthand the need to understand a people before you can “change” them in any way, shape or form. You don’t have to go that far back in Pohnpeian history to see that their current lifestyle is vastly different from the past. Before the white man ever arrived on island, the Pohnpeians were largely living a very comfortable life. They didn’t work a 9-5 job, doing the same thing every day of the workweek. Instead, they were mostly sustenance farmers, living off the land. Pohnpei is known as the “Garden Island” of Micronesia. All three other states of the FSM, Yap, Chuuk and Kosrae, have more difficulties in growing food and have to worry about water collection. Food is abundant in Pohnpei and water is one of the least of their concerns.
A few examples illustrating Pohnpei’s “Garden Island” title:
- In November we were eating papayas here at the MAHI International Hospitality Center and tossed the seeds off the balcony. There are now ten papaya trees, the tallest being seven feet tall.
- Mr. B told me that the old canoes found in Pohnpei were not designed for the open ocean. The fish were so abundant inside the reef they didn’t need to go outside of it. The canoes found in Yap, Chuuk and Kosrae however were all designed for the open ocean.
- All throughout Pohnpei there is so much food that is waiting to be harvested. Everywhere there are Giant Taro patches, Breadfruit, Coconut, Banana and Papaya trees, and much more.
What we’re ultimately trying to do here in Pohnpei is not just reform the education system, but influence the culture so that reform is possible. As Dr. Durden noted, our real challenge is “cultural resistance and cultural change.” How does one begin to change a culture? Is that a desirable goal in the first place? The fact is that much of Pohnpei’s culture has been lost due to the pervasive Western influence. Many of their traditions have not been completely lost, but perverted. A great example of this is sakau. Previously, sakau was a ceremonial drink that was only drank by the high traditional leaders on very special occasions. Now it is drank by over 70% of the islanders daily.
It’s crystal clear that it is ridiculously difficult to reform a culture and the deeply entrenched institutions that lie therein. Given this, I have sought to influence individuals, believing that if even one student is positively impacted by my being here, my time will have been well spent. Institutions and certainly a culture are simply too large to tackle, especially in the short-term. While the vision of grand change might be admirable and worth seeking, at the end of the day what we’re seeking to change are individuals. Only the local people can shape their culture. Indeed, reform must come from within.
