East Meets West

In this video call, two groups of students gathered to share their research conclusions during a 60-minute session over Zoom. Each group was led by a SUSI for Secondary School Teachers Alum: Mr. Kenneth Koh was in charge of the Singaporean group, while Ms. Maricel Roldán lead the Argentine group.

Singaporean students (aged 16-17) shared about the morality of eugenics through time and space. The students analyzed various arguments for and against eugenics through the lenses of Utilitarianism, Kantianism and Liberalism. The presentation also included sharing their findings from a survey they conducted on public perception of eugenics. The students hoped that through open discussion, we are reminded of the sanctity of life and our mission to always strive for the betterment of society.

Argentine students (aged 18-22) dealt with the current status of African American studies in the United States. As there has been a recent initiative to restrict the teaching of Black history, many colleges and universities in the US are striving to show the relevance of keeping these courses. The interest for this theme is rooted in some essays that provided the theoretical framework for the discussion. Argentine
students had previously read about racism, minorities in the US and social class issues. This interdisciplinary approach enabled students to examine present news that is published at a global level.

Students were also given time to ask questions to one another and explore cultural differences. From discussions on compulsory education in Singapore, to the teaching of minority history in Argentina,
students had the opportunity to widen their global perspective. Both Mr. Koh and Ms. Roldán noted how engaged students were and how enriching they found the exchange.