Greg Mortenson, co-founder of the Central Asia Institute and best-selling co-author of Three Cups of Tea, pays tribute to his friends Galen and Barbara Rowell and discusses his life's work in promoting education and literacy - especially for girls - in the remote mountain regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Bio
Greg Mortenson
Greg Mortenson is the co-founder (with Dr. Jean Hoerni) and Executive Director of nonprofit Central Asia Institute.
Since a 1993 climb on Pakistan's K2, he has dedicated his life to promote community-based education and literacy programs, especially for girls, in remote mountain regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Mortenson is also founder of Pennies For Peace and co-author of the #1 New York Times best-seller, Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School At A Time.
Learning that takes place in schools or school-like environments (formal education) or in the world at large; the transmission of the values and accumulated knowledge of a society. In developing cultures there is often little formal education; children learn from their environment and activities, and the adults around them act as teachers. In more complex societies, where there is more knowledge to be passed on, a more selective and efficient means of transmissionthe school and teacherbecomes necessary. The content of formal education, its duration, and who receives it have varied widely from culture to culture and age to age, as has the philosophy of education. Some philosophers (e.g., John Locke) have seen individuals as blank slates onto which knowledge can be written. Others (e.g., Jean-Jacques Rousseau) have seen the innate human state as desirable in itself and therefore to be tampered with as little as possible, a view often taken in alternative education. See alsobehaviourism; John Dewey; elementary education; higher education; kindergarten; lyceum movement; progressive education; public school; special education; teaching.
As far I understand women are the most conservative part of the society. If you educate them first you will explode the social stucture of the country.
Well, Alienlquirer, it seems there are already schools for boys so they are gaining their education. I think the point is that schools are now being erected for girls as well. As for men gaining their education first and then women, the Western culture did that because we didn't know any better. But it's the year 2009 and we should be able to expedite these processes.
I agree with rick manges. As Americans, we are to support equal rights.
Think about the possibilities. If girls receive up to a fifth grade education and can achieve so much, imagine if they were able to continue their education. From said results, it seems we would be one step closer to world peace.
My interpersonal communications class is studying Three Cups of Tea along side of our textbook. This man and his organization are doing great work. Educate the men first? Isn't that the attitude already in place? The girls have a divine right to the same education; that is not just my opinion, but is also stated in the Muslim's most holy book, the Koran.