Indonesian Pesantren Educators

October 2008. K-12 classrooms. Coordinator: Gwen Johnson.

Through the collaboration with East-West Center and US State Department, Scarsdale Public Schools hosted 7 Indonesian pesantren educators for two weeks, 10/19-11/1. Indonesia is a the world's biggest Muslim-majority country. Pesantren means Islamic boarding school. It is not the most common type of education, however, but pesantren is always well-respected by many Indonesian communities. Despite the emphasis on Koranic studies and Islamic history, pesantren curriculum generally embraces modernity by giving emphasis on secular subjects, such as math, science, and foreign languages. In this visit, the Indonesian pesantren educators observed classrooms in elementary, middle and high schools, talked to administrators, and other district staff. Their main focus was how best practices in teaching, learning, and administering were practiced in Scarsdale Schools. My main role in this program was to be the liason between the visiting teachers and the Scarsdale teachers, and to ensure that the pesantren educators were able to maximize their learning objectives during their visit in New York. Hosted by Scarsdale teachers, the Indonesian educators experienced what it was like living in an American teacher family.

 In an effort to develop dialogues, they visited synagogues, churches, mosques. 

Of course, they were also very  excited to go to the world-famous tourist attractions in New York City, such as Grand Central, Times Square, New York's Stock Exchange, and The World Trade Center.

It is also important to acknowledge the contribution of the Indonesian Consulate General

 in supporting this program by holding a speaker forum, inviting one of New York's most influential religious leaders, the Indonesian-born Imam Shamsi Ali, and providing special authentic Indonesian lunch for the Indonesian visitors, Scarsdale teachers, and administrators.