從何時開始，達悟人不再用自己熟悉的方式紀錄及傳遞島嶼的歷史？
從何時開始，我們開始只學習非達悟人撰寫的蘭嶼在地知識？
沒有電視的過去，族人男男女女，老老少少最喜歡在晚飯後聚集，聊天唱歌。最為人知的場域，或許就是好月時節的拍手歌會mikariyag。當時，未婚的年輕人都喜歡在拍手歌會中用詩詞及歌聲吸引異性與建立同輩之間的情感，同時，也學習表現生命歷程中必須駕馭的古老詩詞。祖先的拍手歌會如同現代的大學，在學習之外也擴展人際關係。
拍手歌會的詩歌大多是各個部落的歷史和島嶼的記憶，也是學校老師們不會告訴我們的故事。「達悟學堂」，想再次建立起一個平台，邀請喜歡分享的長者一同來聊天唱歌，分享聆聽蘭嶼時下的議題及沒有被大海繼續傳唱的故事。誠心歡迎喜歡聽故事、發問和討論的任何族人前來共襄盛舉！
Since when have Tao people stopped using for their own familiar ways to pass down the island’s history?
Since when have Tao people started to only learn about Lanyu from the writings of non-Tao people?
In the past when there was no television, male and female, old and young Tao people liked to gather around after dinner for chatting and singing. The most well-known style is perhaps the mikariyag (Hand-Clapping Singing Party) during the summer beautiful-moon season. Of course, single youngsters used this chance to find partners and to bond with peers through creating poems and songs. At the same time, they were also learning traditional songs which they had to master throughout life. This Hand-Clapping Singing Party is like the modern college, where people can build up relationships beside learning.
Hand-Clapping Songs are mostly about histories of the villages and the island. These are the stories, which school teachers never teach us. “Tao classroom” wish to rebuild a learning and exchange platform like formal mikariyag and invite elders, who like to share their knowledge. Here we are also able to exchange thoughts about current issues on Lanyu. Most importantly, we will focus on the stories that are not passed down by the ocean. We sincerely invite people who like to listen to stories, to ask questions, and to discuss, to join us!
