An article on CSB president in Groton Newspaper

Text from the article (typos were left in):

Approximately 200 ninth and tenth graders at Groton High School were allowed the unique opportunity to hear the words of Htun Aung Gyaw, a Burmese dissident who is using the Internet to further his cause. These students in the Global Studies I-and II classes listened intently to Gyaw as he spoke for an hour and a half about the human rights violations in Burma.

Gail Barraco is the Middle/High School librarian who first contacted Gyaw. She said that she saw an article about him in the August issue of Parade magazine. She hoped that Gyaw' presentation would give [students] a fond appreciation for the freedom, that's we have. She said that the message she hopes the students would receive is that "freedom is very important, and people are willing to die tor it."

Gyaw's political involvement began early. In 1975 he was arrested for participating in a student demonstration in Burma. He was beaten and sentenced to life in prison, and his best friend was sentenced to death and hanged while in prison. Gyaw was imprisoned tor five years. In 1989, because of his role as chairman to an armed student group called the "All Burma Students' Democratic Front," he was sentenced to death in absentia. Then, in 1992, he was arrested in Thailand as he attempted to cross the border. had the choice to return to Burma and face a certain death sentence or seek refugee status in the United States.

Gyaw was in the United States six years before he could be joined by his wife, Swe Swe Myint, and their son and daughter, Htet and Kyi respectively.

Now Gyaw lives with his family in Ithaca, NY, and works in Cornell Universitv's libraries. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Asian Studies from Cornell and a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from Rangoon Arts and Science University in Burma. His activist energies are now focused on his role as President of the Civil Society for Burma. He has essentially waged Internet war through the organization's web site at www.csburma.org.

Kathy Spallone, a Global Studies teacher at Groton High School, joined her students for Gyaw's presentation. Students from Jeff Beyel's and Mick LaVick's Global Studies classes also participated. Spallone describes the presentation as "very powerful" and "very moving." She feels that participants experienced concern, empathy, outrage, and shock, and she feels that the students gained a sense of reality and a sense of appreciation for what they have. With respect to the violation of human rights occurring in Burma, Spallone adds that Gyaw portrayed the violations "much more intense and much more horrible than [she] ever imagined." She feels, however, that the saddest part is how "this has gone on for two decades."

According to Spallone, Gyaw's presentation began with the identification of Burma's location. He then presented the history of Burma followed by a summary of his personal experiences. He also included video snippets that were illegally-taped by rebels. Spallone notes that the students responded very well, and that there were many questions from them afterwards.

Spallone also describes how the human rights aspect fits in with the Global Studies curriculum. The current tenth graders were taught about Burma last year, but that area is being moved toward the tenth grade curriculum because ot the new standards. Instructors of ninth grade Global Studies classes did not want their students to miss out on the presentation, however. Spallone suggested that the topic easily fits into studies of American history as well when a comparison of freedom is included.

Activities were also done to prepare for the presentation. Prior to Gyaw's appearance, students reviewed the 16 articles in the Declaration of Human Rights from the United Nations. According to Spallone, the United Nations declared that human rights would be a huge focus between the year of 1995 and 2004. She said that, upon reviewing the articles of the Declaration students found that all 16 of the articles were violated in Burma for more than 20 year. In another activity, students were asked to compare information from the Civil Society of Burma's web site to that of the military regime's web site at www.myanmar.com; Myamnar is the military's name for Burma.

Spallone comments that the media often overlooks the atrocities occurring in such places as Burma. However, even if you see something "in the news all the time... it's another thing to have someone before [you]" who has lived through it. She says that it is a similar experience to learn about the Holocaust from a survivor. She says that such presentations bring an "escalated reality" to history. Such a mode of offering information "piques [the students'] interest and touches their hearts."

Furthermore, the students become inspired to act when needed." All of this, she says, is what education should do. Overall, Spallone feels that the students "have responded pretty intensely" Beyond writing to Gyaw, the students want to do something more about the violation of human rights in Burma. Some may become involved in letter writing campaigns. Spallone credits Cail Barraeo, the librarian, for initiating such a powerful supplement to her coursework. She says that Barraco "does more than get books for kids." She consistently finds books, Internet sites, and other information related to the curriculum. For now, says Spallone, all of those who participated are still realizing the implications of Gyaw's presentation. She says that this is "definitely something that will stay with us for a while." In other words, she says, "we are still digesting."