Page 2 - MidWeek - Oct 20, 2021

2 MIDWEEK OCTOBER 20, 2021
A Leading-edge Educator
“The object of teaching a child is to enable him to get along without a teacher.” — Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915)
YChico, Who Knew?!
It was 1969, the final se- mester of my MBA pro- gram at University of California, Berkeley. That spring was a hotbed of protest over the Vietnam War, wom- en’s rights, the free speech movement, Black power and the People’s Park — but the business school was an oasis of conservatism in the midst of the radical activism. With one more class to take, I was eager to finish and begin work. That last class would forever change my idea of education.
ou don’t know what you don’t know. And often, you don’t know it. Huh? Well, I know I don’t know how to fly a plane, but I’m cog-
dents can be better nurtured and prepared for the com- pressed reaction time imposed by the ubiquity of computers and instant communications. We were fortunate to have had such a leading “edge-ucator” who realized that how stu- dents and employees think are critical factors for a vibrant, collaborative and competitive world.
Born and raised in Wahi- awā, Rod Moriyama worked for IBM on the mainland and abroad before returning to Hawai‘i. He is an active board member of Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawai‘i, and pres- ident of Wahiawā Hongwanji.
Chasing The Light is pro- duced by Lynne Johnson and Robin Stephens Rohr.
nizant of that fact. Sometimes it’s reassuring to find something that you simply didn’t know even existed, something of which you were unaware. It can light a fire, make you more curious, open new doors.
Like chico, otherwise known as sapodilla. It’s a tree that bears a funky fruit of the same name. Who knew? Maybe you did. But while tagging along with my seedling-seeking wife at a Waimānalo nursery recently, I spied a cardboard box that said “chico” as we were paying for our plant-able goods. The propri- etor told me that chico fruit, which looks like a cross between a kiwi and a russet potato, has the granular sensation of a pear and tastes like cinnamon. Cinna- mon!? That’s my boo! The ultimate spice, a gift from above. Oh, by the way, seek out the more expensive Ceylon cinnamon; it’s healthier for you than garden variety cassia cinnamon.
The professor, a young hip- pie type from Harvard, walked in and announced, “This is one of the most unique classes you’ll ever have. You’re going to select the subject, teach the class, structure things any way you like and turn in a paper. I’ ll be available as a consul- tant. Any questions? Class dis-
One of the author’s college professors used a different educational approach to develop students into independent, critical thinkers.
PHOTO COURTESY LYNNE JOHNSON
mechanical engineer, and I chose to do a paper on “The Fully Automated Factory.” I would work on the opera- tional side, while he would handle financial aspects. The class’s open format was per- fect, as the People’s Park riot shut the school down for six weeks. Even more beneficial, we were challenged to think things through on our own, to
KELLEY
So, I bought a half dozen of the mundane chicos and waited for a slight give in their texture when pinched. I quartered them, removed the solo pit and savored nirvana! Who knew? Yet another local food treasure to add to my palate. I am now on a chico quest, like a truf- fle-hunting pig, because chicos are surely not the cen- terpiece of your everyday, local produce departments.
foresee possible consequences and to find ways to deal with problems. Ultimately, we fin- ished the paper, led a class discussion, gave the profes- sor permission to publish the paper and graduated in time.
But they are available on farms, specialty grocers, and some farmers markets (KCC). I’ve since learned that sapodilla wood can be found in Mayan ruins. Ancient, tropical and available. Yes, you simply don’t know what you don’t know. To learn of a luscious, nutritious new fruit at my overripe old age has been a real treat. Did you know there are perhaps 14 variet- ies of papaya, but well over 500 types of mangoes?! Trivia like this boggles one’s mind. Did you know that furry rambutans are laden with potassium and healthy folates?
missed.” By the next session, our numbers had shrunk from 40 to 10.
Our professor’s vision of developing independent and critical thinking skills was far ahead of his time. In a fluid, creative environment, stu-
New Century Schoolbook bold (scaled H 73.6)
My friend Scott, a fellow
LIGHT
with
Rod Moriyama
We can go beyond kale, blueberries and walnuts to survive! So indulge yourself. It’s out there if you just look for it, or perhaps stumble upon it. And finally, despite a great marketing effort for green Actinidia deliciosa (kiwi), the gold/yellow kiwi variety packs more vitamin C and sweetness. So check out chicos or find your own new passion.
Think about it ...
john@thinkaboutithawaii.com