NJ-ALPHA (New Jersey Alliance for Learning and
Preserving the History of World War II in Asia) is an educational
organization whose purpose is to educate the public about the history of
WWII in Asia, especially the history about the atrocities that the Japanese
Imperial Army inflicted on China, Korea, Philippines,
and other parts of Asia (for more information about
these atrocities, click
here).
Improving the education of this part of history is especially
important today when our students need to become world citizens.
The average length of time that a high school
world history course spends on WWII Asian history is estimated to be about
15 minutes, and almost none on the atrocities
committed by the Japanese Imperial Army in WWII.
Even if a teacher wants to teach more about this period of history,
the teacher usually knows very little about it and there are no readily
available teaching materials for teachers and students.
For the sake of our children and grandchildren getting a correct
perspective on history, NJ-ALPHA wants to change this state of affairs.
NJ-ALPHA’s educational program focuses on
first helping the teachers to increase their knowledge about this part of
WWII history, and then with the help of the teachers increase the students' and the public's
knowledge about this part of WWII history.
During the past five years of our existence, we already have had significant
achievements:
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In each of the past few years, NJ-ALPHA has sponsored
several secondary school or college teachers/educators on an educational
study tour to China, called "Peace and Reconciliation Tour to China" (or
"China Study Tour" for short).
In each tour, the participants have an intensive
two-week immersion in that part of history:
Interviewing survivors,
discussing with scholars, visiting historical sites and museums, and
collecting relevant documents and oral histories.
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In collaboration with the
NJ Commission on Holocaust
Education, in September 2007 and in October 2010 we have published two
editions of a Curriculum Guide for
Secondary Teachers: "The Nanking Massacre and Other Japanese
Military Atrocities, The Asia-Pacific War: 1931-1945."
The NJ Commission on Holocaust Education has distributed over 300 copies
of the 200 plus-page Curriculum Guide to all the high schools in NJ. Many high schools
in NJ are beginning to include this part of history into their
curriculum, and more will do so in the future. The second edition
of this Curriculum Guide can be downloaded from
this
link in the NJ Commission on Holocaust Education's website.
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NJ-ALPHA and the teachers/educators upon their returns
from the China Study Tours have organized various public educational
programs to educate the public about this part of WWII history.
Several of these programs were jointly sponsored with Brookdale
Community College's
Center for World War II Studies and Conflict Resolution.
During the next five years, NJ-ALPHA plans to expand the
above program in the following ways:
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Extend participation in the China Study Tours to
college students, besides teachers/educators (and later also high school
students)
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Extend participation in the China Study Tours to other
states in Eastern U.S.
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Publish additional extensions or new versions of the Curriculum Guide for
secondary school students
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Publish a new Curriculum Guide that is targeted to
middle school students
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Increase the number and depth of our public education
events
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Collaborate with appropriate libraries or research
centers to establish physical and virtual resource centers with
reference material on this part of WWII history
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Help to establish additional ALPHA chapters in
Eastern U.S.
NJ-ALPHA has an Executive Office of four officers and a
seven-member Board of Directors. Here are their brief bios.
Executive Office:
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President: Don Tow, Ph.D., a retired
physicist and engineer, long-time activist in student and
community activities, and author of the book
Mental Aspects of Youth Soccer: A
Primer for Players, Parents, and Coaches
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Vice President: Ann Santee, an
elementary school social worker
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Treasurer: Rosa Yeh, a tutor of high
school math
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Secretary: Frann Len, supply chain and
project management professional with experience in consumer
products and pharmaceutical manufacturing
Board of Directors:
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Leah Brown-Klein: Special Education
teacher, Highland Park Middle School, and former VP of NJ-ALPHA
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Flora Chong: EVP of Toronto-ALPHA.
Retired from CEO position to concentrate on volunteer
activities, recipient of the Queen's Medal and Ontario Volunteer
Awards
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Peter Li, Ph.D.: Former President of
Global Alliance, Founding President of NJ-ALPHA, Professor
Emeritus of Asian Studies at Rutgers University, and author of
the book Japanese War Crimes: The
Search for Justice
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Pete Stanek, Ph.D.: President of Global
Alliance and retired after long career in academics, government,
and industry, and student of WWII history
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Don Tow, Ph.D.: President of NJ-ALPHA,
retired physicist and engineer, long-time activist in student
and community activities, and author of the book
Mental Aspects of Youth Soccer: A
Primer for Players, Parents, and Coaches
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Victor Yung: Former President and
Co-Founder of NJ-ALPHA and retired businessman of international
trade
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Paul Zigo: Associate Professor of
History and Former
Director of the Center for WWII Studies and Conflict Resolution
at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, NJ, and a retired
colonel of the U.S. Army Reserve
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