Reflections

This week has been a powerful experience as I spent upwards to 10 hours each day at Huangshi No 7 High School.  Students begin their day at 8:00 a.m. and are at school until 7:00 p.m.  I was in a number of classes and had numerous discussion meetings with groups of students, parents, teachers, administrators, and college students who were studying to become teachers.  And along the way, I have gained many new friends from half-way around the world, a little knowledge of Chinese language and a desire to learn more.

Tonight, we met up with the full U.S. delegation in Shanghai for a debriefing meeting and of course, another meal of Chinese food. 

Huangshi No. 7 has 20 English language teachers…  But as is true with most of their paper & pencil examination based instruction, they are masters of reading and writing English, but very poor at applying the language.  This gives me great pause as I consider foreign language instruction in the United States, suggesting that without depth in oral instruction of language, learning a foreign language has very little use in application.  The Chinese can read and write English, but they have great difficulty communicating through dialog.

I also see the great potential for establishing email pen pals between students and teachers as a way of taking steps toward broadening our cultural awareness.  We could also set up distance learning opportunities using Skype between teachers and classrooms.  Being a part of this program has also opened my eyes to the potential for future exchange programs between teachers and students.  There is so much to learn, and being in China over the past weeks has shown me that our world is not as big as I had once perceived.  We have many, many differences in our culture (and do I have stories to tell…).  But the Chinese, like Americans, want very much for their children to get a good education and to improve their lives.  Chinese parents and students are desperate to improve their lives.  Behind the glitter and majesty of the tall buildings and the ancient wonders of in Xian, Beijing, Huangshi City, Hunan, and now Shanghai, the vast majority of Chinese citizens are poor beyond our imagination.  And education is their only hope…

  

Parting Gifts

This is my last night in Hunagshi City as tomorrow I will return to the capital city of Hubie Province - Wuhan, where I will fly to Shanghai to reunite with our U.S. delegation.  Before leaving Huangshi No. 7 High School, I was humbled to receive some very nice parting gifts.  Pictured is a senior art student (Wu Lei) who gave me a painting that I was admiring a couple days ago.  What an amazing surprize!  And then, Mr. Ye presented to me a Chinese coat.  This jacket design dates back to the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 A.D.).  Mr. Ye told me that this is the same coat that was given to President George W. Bush when he visited China.  It is beautiful and makes me feel truly honored.  In all truthfullnes, during my entire stay in Huangshi City I have been treated like royalty. 

Yangtze River

On our way to lunch today, we stopped by to see the Yangtze River.  Hunagshi City is on this river.  It it flows nearly 4,000 miles through the center of China and is the 3rd longest river in the world.  The Nile River is first and our own Mississippi River is the second longest river.  We had a wonderful stroll in the river park before I was taken to a western style restaurant.  This is the first food I have had that was not Chinese in two weeks.  The steak and french fries were delicious and I used a knife and fork to eat!  :)

School Concert

This morning I was treated to an hour long concert by many different students.  They sang, played the saxophone, the piano, and other instruments and a group of boys did a breakdancing routine.  They were all amazing and I have some great videos to share when I get home.  Pictured is a student playing an ancient Chinese string instrument while dressed in the constume of the era the instrument was more commonly played.

The Schools of Huangshi City

Ahh... the moment I've been waiting for.  I finally got to play some ping pong in China.  I actually held my own pretty well, but I am convinced they were taking it easy on me.  The Chinese custom would never allow them to embarass a guest, particularly one that they have been treating like a king since I arrived. Today was a very full day that began with a visit to the Huangshi Education Bureau.  This would be like a county board of education office, except it oversees the education system in for the city of Hunagshi (971 schools).  They have a staff of 33 people who oversee all elementary, junior high, and senior high schools, along with a city vocational school.  Altogether, the schools of Huangshi City have some 500,000 students and 30,000 teachers.  From there, we visited the Hubei Normal University.  "Normal" universities are colleges for teacher preparation. We had visited the Beijing Normal University last week.  From the Hubei Normal University, we went to Huangshi No. 2 Senior High School.  "The numbers assigned to schools in China are simply for naming the schools," according to my interpreter.  It's kind of like the 1st Presbyterian Church or the 2nd National Bank.  As there are many senior high schools in Huangshi, this happened to be the 2nd.  This was, however, a "Key High School," meaning that the success of its students had earned the school the title of "key." 

We went on to visit the Hubei City Vocational & Technical School, Guangchang Road Primary School, Huangshi No. 8 Middle School, and a school for just kindergarteners.  Another meal with varous education officials and we were off to Mr. Ye's High School - Hunagshi No. 7.  Pictured below is a kindergarten boy glowing with pride as he shows me the butterfly he has just colored.  And - as with every school visit, I am greeted with banners, music, unbelievable flower arrangements, and hundreds of wonderful students.  

Huangshi City

Following a 2 ½ hour flight from Beijing to Wuhan and a two hour drive to our hotel, we woke up this morning in Huangshi City for the third and final phase of our U.S.- China Exchange experience.  That is – four of us woke up in Huangshi City.  Our U.S. delegation is now headed in different directions, as corresponding administrators and their schools are in different regions.  We now have individual interpreters and our experience is becoming more and more individual.  Today was Sunday.  We started our day with a wonderful buffet breakfast and then had a formal meeting and welcome with high ranking education officials from regional and local offices.  Following our meeting, the whole contingency piled in cars and headed for a day of getting to know Hubei & Huangshi City.

At the Huangshi Museum, we learned about the long standing history of mining of iron ore and other important metals and minerals.  Artifacts of tools and tunnels told the story of some 2,000 year of mining. 

Our second stop was the East Mountain, a breathtaking view of beauty and grandeur.  “Don Fang” takes its name from being located in the eastern region of Hubei Province.  Many tourists come to climb the mountain and visit the ancient Buddhist Temple.  Mr. Ye, Chen Da (my interpreter), and I were greeted by a fourth grader from a local primary school.  Zhou Si Cheng served as our tour guide for the Buddhist Temple.  Pictured is Zhou telling us about a water well that is over 1,000 years old.  Visitors can still draw water to wash their hands or feet when they reach the temple.  Inside one of the many buildings of the temple is an amazing display of over 1,800 miniature Buddha’s, each with a distinct face and expression.  I asked Mr. Ye if he was of the Buddhist faith.  With a smile he answered “No, but I do come and pray to Buddha once a year…right before my students take the national examination.”  I wondered if Buddha might help us on our upcoming OAA’s?

After the temple we had another very elaborate meal.  (I don’t think I am losing any weight…)  Following lunch, we traveled to visit the ancient Daye iron ore mining sites.  They are still in operation today.  We wound down our day by driving two hours to Yangxin County where we would spend the night in villas at the Lake of 1,000 Islands.  Our accommodations were once again fit for a king and the sights of the scenic lake nestled between the mountains were unquestionably worth the drive.

Mr. Yu Yougen

We were honored to have Mr. Yu Yougen join us for lunch.  He is the Director of the U.S. - Chinese Exchange Initiative on the China side.  Mr. Yu had just returned from Washington D.C. where he was meeting with Hillary Clinton.  Through discussion, we learned that the Obama administration has a goal that 100,000 U.S. people have a substantive educational experience through educational exchange programs with China.  That is why the U.S. State Department is helping to sponsor the U.S. - Chinese Exchange Initiative. 

The Temple of Heaven

The Temple of Heaven is yet another marvel in China.  It was built during the Ming Dynasty in 1420.  While its name speaks of heaven, it has little to do with religion.  It is more literally about the sky.  There was a belief at the time, however, that by offering animal sacrifices to the sun god and rain god, the gods would in return provide for a harvest that would sustain their people. So, you could say the Temple of Heaven was a type of agricultural investment.  The emperor would come from his home in the Forbidden City twice each year (during the winter solstice and during the spring festival).  As was the case with the Forbidden City, a photo can do very little to represent the vastness of the Temple of Heaven.  Made up of many different intricate buildings, walkways and structures, the size, including what is now used as a public park, is comparable to an amusement park in size.  Visiting these sites, however, takes one far beyond amusement.     

The Great Wall of China

Just a little over an hour drive from Beijing, the Great Wall of China is truly a magnificent site.  The cut stone wall winds up and down across deserts, grasslands, plateaus, and where we visited today – mountains.  We climbed 1,000 steps to reach the top, but took the escalator back down to catch our bus on time (and to catch our breath)..  In total, the wall is about 5,500 miles from east to west in China.  Construction dates back more than 2,000 years.  It wasn’t until more recently that China began “taking steps” to preserve this national treasure, and as a result of historic neglect, some sections are in ruins or completely gone.  Other areas, such as this famous tourist site, still boast the majesty and historic significance of the world’s oldest continuous civilization.  The great wall was built during the Tang Dynasty, 618 – 907 A.D. as a barrier of protection from the barbarian attacks of Mongolians from the north. 

Teaching in China

Yesterday we visited the Beijing Normal University.  This is the top teacher preparation college in China.  Attached is a laboratory school, where people who are studying to become teachers work with students.  Professor Wang Yingijie (pictured) spoke to our group for about an hour and a half about the challenges teachers face and the direction China is trying to go with educational reform at all levels.  Many issues are being debated as China strives to address this fundamental reality:  “2 million engineers graduate annually, but only 10% are functional.”  This problem is not just one of engineers.  As our tour guide elaborated – “We have a lot of college graduates that are good for nothing…”  Students are very good at taking “The Test,” but are not good at all in applying their knowledge.

The Chinese national tests, which occur at the end of elementary, junior high, and high school determine what choices (if any) a student has at the next level.  And with the family planning policy (1 child per family), a child has a tremendous amount of pressure put on him/her from two parents and four grandparents.  This one child is the hope of the entire family.  Pressure also wears heavily on teachers.  Depression is the most serious problem Chinese teachers face.  Yesterday’s China Daily newspaper spoke to the concern.

See:  http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2010-09/10/content_11282714.htm

And also: www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2011-04/15/content_12329942.htm

School for Children of Migrant Workers

Today we saw the tale of two schools.  We spent the morning at the National Day School in Beijing, which is one of the top schools in Beijing, and in China.  This school has 4,000 students and Yao Ming attended this school, but did not pass the test to go to the next level…  This school is one of the leaders in educational reform in china and I will have much to share about their philosophies and approach.  Photos are included in the link on this blog.  It is an amazing school, with some of China’s best students.

In the afternoon, we visited a migrant worker elementary school.  These are for children whose families have moved out of their rural village to find work in the city.  These are considered private, because they are not funded by the government.  The conditions that these wonderful young children and their teachers work in are unimaginable.  There are 1200 students and 56 staff.  Class sizes were 50-60, but that was the least of the shock.  This building would be condemned if it were would be condemned in the U.S.  They do not meet code in China either, and often migrant schools are closed down.  As was explained, the simply move to another location and set up shop…They have next to nothing in the way of supplies.  I did not see one computer.  Seeing this school was more moving than seeing the Great Wall of China.  There is too much to be said in a blog…

Bian Yi Fang

Bian Yi Fang is the oldest roast duck restaurant in China. Beijing is know particularly for its Peking Duck. This beautiful restaurant was established during the Ming Dynasty (1416 A.D.). As has been the case with every meal, the food and conversation with my new friends from across Ohio, Massachusetts, Vermont, Main, Pennsylvania, and Indiana (a total of 32) has been amazing.

April 11, 2011

Yesterday evening we visited the Muslim Temple in Xian.  It consists of 4 courtyards and many different buildings.  In Xian, the Mosque serves as a place for Chinese Muslims (men only) to come to pray, but is also open as a tourist attraction.  The only women permitted in the Mosque area were those who paid their admission along with other tourists.  As tourists, we were all able to enter the main gate and view the courtyards and buildings, but none of us were permitted to enter the main temple where prayers take place.  However, we were able to see some 200 men come for their 5:30 p.m. prayer.  We could watch from outside and look in to see and here the prayers take place.  

This Mosque is the oldest in China (dating back to 750 A.D.).  The buildings are all in the Chinese architecture from the Tang Dynasty. Pictured is one of the small open buildings in one of the Mosque courtyards.

Religions are not encouraged yet are permitted in China, but only those that are registered and sanctioned by the Chinese government.  An unregistered religion can initiate anti-government movements, and for this reason are squelched. 

The Dalai Lama, for example, is the Buddhist Leader of the Tibetans.  He has been living in exile in India since 1959, at the time of the Tibetan uprising.  According to our tour guide, he is welcome to return to China if he would be willing to take his seat on the government board of religious leaders.  But the Dalai Lama and most Tibetans want nothing to do with mixing politics with their religion.    

April 10, 2011

We had an incredible day today as we visited a rural village and school.  Pictured are brothers Wong Er Hu & Wong Dai Bu  (Chinese say their family name first).  In China, there is a rule that you can have only one child.  But there are exceptions.  For example, if both parents are from a single child family, they may have a second child.  Also, minority populations do not have to practice the one child rule.  And as is the case with these two brothers, their parents are permitted to have more than one child because they live in the rural farm area.  Because many young adult people are fleeing from the farm areas to the cities for work, the population of villages such as their's is dropping steadily.  In fact, this school of 108 elementary students (grades 1-6) will be consolidating with two other shrinking elementary schools in the next year.  Losing population in farm areas poses a great concern with maintaining an adequate food supply for China.  Therefore, the Chinese government has eased the restriction of one child in rural farm areas.  Still, many of these very poor families cannot afford to have more than one child in the family.  And arguably, most of the families I met today can hardly afford to raise even one child...

April 9, 2011

I've been having difficulty accessing my blog in China.  The "Great Firewall of China" is harder to pass than the City Wall around Xian.  Xian is a 5,000 year old city where the Great Wall goes around the city (13 miles).  We rode bicycles around the City Wall on Thursday.  I have many photos to share and hope to be able to get more to my blog.  All is well and every day is an amazing experience!

Leaving Chicago for Beijing