The Future of China

During my visit to the #1 High School in Yiyang City in Hunan Province, I am struck by the level of commitment for improvement displayed by the students here. There have been numerous opportunities to meet with students in large classes as well as small gatherings and, in all cases, the students have a high level of optimism about their future. All of them speak about a strong sense of patriotism and are encouraged by China's growth. They know that they have to work hard and that they must achieve high grades in school and on the national test in order to do well and get into a good university. There is much competition for limited spaces. Consequently, there is much stress here. Students take eight classes a day. The school day extends from 7:30 in the morning to about 5:00 PM with a two hour break for lunch and classes are 45 minutes long. Subjects include Chinese, math, science (physics, chemistry and biology), English, history, art, geography, music and "physical training" (gym). Students eventually select one of two tracks: math/science or art. The difference in the tracks appears to be on the emphasis placed on certain subjects, but students must take all subjects. For the students that board at the school (about one quarter of the 4,000 students), there is a mandatory study period from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM. I had a chance to observe this study period.

Some of the questions that I have explored with the staff include how schools meet the needs of students with special learning needs (special needs students attend a different school), how do teachers deal with the high class size (this is a major concern with up to 75 students in a class) and how do students handle the enormous pressure placed on them (there is only one psychologist in a school of 4,000 students). Some questions for further consideration include: Can the high class sizes be reduced? Can students with special learning needs be better served? Does the "one child" policy have an impact on student performance? What can we adopt from the educational practices in China?

There are many problems in the educational system in China that will need solutions. The sheer number of students is overwhelming. It is surprising to see the high level of optimism in both students and staff. I was struck by the simple words spoken by the young boy in this picture. As I passed by, I heard him say..."Good Morning." He is in kindergarten and I asked his father if I could take his picture. The father agreed and asked his son to say a few more words in English "to the American." Obviously, this father is quite proud of his son, a kindergarten student in China. I think the future of this country is bright.

Chinese Dragon Dance

The dragon has a long tradition in Chinese culture. Images of dragons can be found in paintings and on buildings and porcelain. One interesting tradition is the performance of the Dragon Dance, typically done at festivals and in parades. The dragon is very colorful and playful with streamers of red and gold. Students in the physical education class at the #1 High School at Yiyang City were taught aspects of the dance and demonstrated the dance to me. I was invited to join in the performance. The dance is more difficult to perform than it appears, especially for this superintendent. There is quite a bit of movement, coordination and running and the long streamers can get tangled as the dragon's head twists and turns. I was impressed with the exuberance displayed by the students at the Yiyang #1 High School. They had a great time performing this dance and thoroughly enjoyed my participation.

Some questions to consider include: Do different cultures treat "dragons" in different ways? Does the Chinese dragon represent good or evil? What do the colors red and yellow signify in the Chinese dragon?

Chinese High School Students

The warmth of reception I have received from the students and staff at the #1 High School in Yiyang City, Hunan Province has been magnificent. The opportunity to visit with these young students has been an incredible experience. The students are bright, articulate and friendly. They are eager to talk with me in English and want to learn much about America. The school has 4,000 students, all of whom gathered to greet me at the opening day ceremony. I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of generosity. We have much to learn from each other and my hope is to establish a partnership between our schools. There are a number of school districts in Massachusetts that exchange students and teachers with China. I hope to do the same in North Reading. It would be interesting to hear from our students, teachers and parents about the potential for an exchange program? Will our students be interested in traveling to China? I know about 4,000 at the #1 High School in Yiyang who would like to visit North Reading.

Great Wall

The Great Wall is truly a marvel. One cannot comprehend the magnitude of this project. Stretching over 3,500 miles, the wall climbs countless mountains and hills. We visited the restored section at Badaling. The area was crowded with tourists, but the crowds thinned as you ascended due to the steep steps. My goal was to reach the highest section at the top of the mountain. Looking out from the garrisons along the wall, one is transported back to the Ming Dynasty and many questions are raised. Who were the workers who built this wall? Was the wall really effective in protecting China? What would it have been like to be stationed in one of the garrisons. According to Robert Frost...."Good fences make good neighbors." I wonder if this saying is true about the Great Wall.

Education Reform in China

Similar to NCLB (No Child Left Behind) in the US., China is facing its own issues in Education Reform. Some of the issues faced by China include"
1. How will China improve a socialist harmonious society?
2. How will China deal with pollution?.
3. What is meant by a "harmonious society"?
4. Will testing restrict creativity?

Great Mosque at Xian

The eastern terminus of the "Silk Road" is in Xian and, as a result, there is a sizable Muslim population in Xian. Many the Muslims are descendants of those who traveled the ancient road from the west. Our hotel bordered the Muslim neighborhood and we were wakened every morning around 5:30 by the call to prayer from the Great Mosque. The Mosque, built around 742 AD, is quite magnificent with its gardens, temples and pavilions aligned in a symmetrical pattern. The Prayer Hall can hold up to 1,000 individuals. Muslims represent the largest minority in China and their influence on the culture of Xian is quite evident. It would be interesting to research the history of the Silk Road on the development of culture between the west and the east. Another interesting comparison would be to think about how the Internet Superhighway is rapidly changing our culture.

Pangliu Village School

Today, we visited the Pangliu Village School. This rural school is located outside of Xian and serves a collection of rural villages. The primary industry in the villages is the making of bricks. The school has been adopted by Primary Source in Watertown, MA. The school serves students in grades 1-6. We were very impressed with the level of enthusiasm of the principal and the teachers. As we entered the school grounds, the entire school (some 300+ students) were assembled to greet us. Students played drums and bugles and students with flags led us into the school. It is obvious these students have a great deal of pride in their school. The school's principal and the village mayor addressed our group. We als0 had a chance to visit the school's library and technology lab. It was interesting to watch these young students use technology. We broke into two groups and visited both fifth and sixth grade classrooms. There were at least 42 students per class and the students were very eager to practice their English skills. It was instructive to hear these young student converse in English. We asked the students to tell us what types of job they hoped to do when they were grown....many said doctors, teachers and engineers. The family plays a key role in the lives of these children. The major focus of instruction in China appears to be on the preparation for the entrance exams into the next level of schooling. Much of the curriculum focuses on math, Chinese and English. Students begin the study of English at grade 3.

Following our visit to the school, we had a lunch in the home of one of the villagers. We were overwhelmed by the level of generosity of these villagers. Imagine opening your home to strangers. Today's visit to the Pangliu Village School was very emotional and instructive. Our group plans to identify a project that we can support. Last year's group supported a field trip to see the Terracotta Warriors for the entire sixth grade. These students had never taken such a field trip. It was clear that last year's students were very much impacted by this opportunity.