[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=54902.62

MCAS Heading To China

From Staff Reports

MICHIGAN CITY - A team of Michigan City Area Schools educators are among those who will travel to China for one week in an effort to build and expand Chinese language programs.

Team members include Kathryn Lee, vice president of the school board; Jan Radford, director of curriculum and instruction; Peggy Scope, principal of Barker Middle School; Jeanne Ann Cannon, counselor at Barker Middle School; Kent Davis, principal of Eastport Early Learning Center; and Deborah Langley, a pre-kindergarten teacher at Eastport.

In its third year, the goal of the Chinese Bridge delegation is to expose school decision-makers to the history and culture of a country whose language is the most widely spoken in the world.

More than 800 delegates will take part in this year's trip, which June 23 to July 2. Last year, Superintendent Michael Harding participated in the trip.

The tour, sponsored by the College Board, begins in Beijing and then travels to other cities and provinces, where they will meet with local education commissions. Participants will have an opportunity to talk with Chinese education leaders, build sister schools and network with other U.S. educators who are working toward the same goal of offering Chinese language programs to their students.

"We hope this program will eventually help to offer more students in our country the opportunity to become fluent in the most widely spoken language in the world," said College Board President Gaston Caperton. "We're building a bridge that will aid in strengthening our ties, our future economic partnerships and our appreciation of our respective cultures."

"The Michigan City Area Schools' team is deeply honored to be included in this year's United States delegation to China," said Harding. "Our educators will acquire a great deal of knowledge and understanding through their experiences in China. This will assist immensely as our district continues toward expanding language, cultural, and academic experiences for our students, Pre-K through college."

The Chinese Bridge delegation is sponsored by Hanban, China's Office of Chinese Language Council International, in partnership with the College Board, the Chinese Language Association of Secondary-Elementary Schools, the National Council of State Supervisors for Languages, the National Association of District Supervisors of Foreign Languages and Chinese Consulates in the United States.

In April 2006, the College Board and Hanban announced the formation of a partnership to build and expand Chinese language programs in U.S. schools. In addition to the Chinese Bridge Delegation, the partnership features other programs intended to help educators promote Chinese language and culture programs.

Established by the Chinese government in 1987, Hanban is China's official agency authorized to promote Chinese language and culture internationally, fulfilling a function similar to that of both the United Kingdom's British Council and France's Alliance Francaise.

[Roger Kaputnik]

Here is a list of useful Chinese phrases we need to learn:

Yes, sir.
Yes, madame.
Would you care for some more, sir?
Your hot bath is ready.
Are the children attending the soirée tomorrow?
Will you require cold meats when you return this evening?

[Ang]

How much do you think it will cost in retro pay to send these people to China?

[Dave]

You'd think the reporter would mention how much this is going to cost the MCAS after last year's trip by Harding and the uproar that generated.

[Southsider2k12]

You'd think the reporter would mention how much this is going to cost the MCAS after last year's trip by Harding and the uproar that generated.

Probably not for one reason, Deb Sederberg is the one who does most of that reporting, and I doubt she wants to get cut off for information by asking about and/or printing that information.

[Marram]

Probably not for one reason, Deb Sederberg is the one who does most of that reporting, and I doubt she wants to get cut off for information by asking about and/or printing that information.

I do not believe Ms. Sederberg would withhold information or not ask an important question to avoid being "cut off." Nor would Tim Russert.

From the article:

The tour, sponsored by the College Board, begins in Beijing and then travels to other cities and provinces, where they will meet with local education commissions.

And then later in the article:

The Chinese Bridge delegation is sponsored by Hanban, China's Office of Chinese Language Council International, in partnership with the College Board, the Chinese Language Association of Secondary-Elementary Schools, the National Council of State Supervisors for Languages, the National Association of District Supervisors of Foreign Languages and Chinese Consulates in the United States.

What isn't clear is whether or not they are "sponsoring" the trip by paying all of the expense or just some of them. I would bet my hat that, through letters to the Anvil Chorus, discussions by the school board, and such, we will get to the bottom of this very soon.

[Dave]

I would bet my hat that, through letters to the Anvil Chorus, discussions by the school board, and such, we will get to the bottom of this very soon.

Soon, maybe. After the fact? Definitely.

More than 800 delegates will take part in this year's trip, which June 23 to July 2.

This trip began yesterday.

[Ang]

Despite the criticism leveled at the News Dispatch; I do not Ms. Sederberg would withhold information or not ask an important question to avoid being "cut off." Nor would Tim Russert.

That may be so, but we all know how many skeletons are in MC's closet and it wouldn't surprise me in the least if a local reporter would downplay a story in order to maintain a source. I'm sure it's happened in the past and will happen again in the future. Furthermore, I'm sure reporters aren't the only ones who downplay stories to protect themselves and save face in the community!

[southyards]

With MCAS graduation rate of 64.9% in 2006 and 59.7% in 2007, it will be interesting to see how the grad. rates will soar by adding Chinese language and culture classes to the curriculum instead of concentrating on core subjects. Not to mention the cost of going ‘over there’ for tours; those dollars would buy a lot of fuel for the school buses, etc. Seems like the way things are headed, the Chinese will be coming over here before long to take inventory of their new North American province. (us)

[Dan]

Did they have to travel to Mexico to learn how to teach Spanish?

Did they travel to France and Germany to learn how to teach French and German?

Did they travel to Greece to learn how to teach Latin?

What a waste of money.

It's nothing more than a free vacation for already over-compensated government officials.

[Dave]

Did they travel to Greece to learn how to teach Latin?

Either I got wooshed there, or you misspelled "Italy."

[Roger Kaputnik]

Gad, I wish I'd said that!

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=58019.76

Questions Raised About China Trip
To the voters and property owners of Michigan City: I read with great interest the article about the superintendent's trip to China. It certainly raised a lot of questions:

1. Why was the article about the trip released the day before the "entourage" left for China?

2. How is the trip being financed?

3. How does the goal of integrating the Chinese language into the curriculum of the Michigan City Area Schools fit in with the strategic plan?

4. What benefit will learning Chinese bring to those students who are struggling to pass ISTEP and meet the state's grade level goals?

If I were a registered voter in Michigan City, I would demand an answer from the members of the school's Board of Trustees. But I am a property owner and, as such, am asking for answers, which I am officially doing with this letter.

I do admit that I have some bias as to what those answers will be. Let's see how close I can come.

1. The article was released the day before the trip so that there wasn't time for the community or the school board to raise concerns. The "entourage" had already left. (Did ALL board members know about this trip prior to the publicity piece in the newspaper?)

2. The trip is being financed through tax dollars.

3. This goal does not fit in with the strategic plan at all. There is no documentation available that suggests that the citizens of Michigan City desire that their children learn to speak Chinese. (Wouldn't Spanish be a better choice?)

4. No benefit whatsoever.

Based on my guesses as to how the above questions will be answered, the most important question that needs to be addressed is this: Why was this trip approved and why are we wasting resources and time on this issue?

Cheryl Koepke

Retired MCAS Teacher (35 Years)

Past President of the MCEA

Editor's note: Betsy Kohn, community relations for Michigan City Area Schools, said the trip was funded by Hanban, the Office of Chinese Language Council International, and any remaining fees were paid through

grant funds, so this had no impact to general fund/tax dollars.

Also, the superintendent did not go on the trip this year - he went last year - but this time it was a delegation of educators from MCAS. They will be

presenting at an upcoming board meeting, perhaps the second meeting in July or in August.

She also said, "Our strategic plan specifically references opportunities to expand students' learning about other cultures, and there are lots of real benefits to language instruction in the early years ... I believe there's research out there proving that kids do better on tests when they have early language instruction. And Chinese is spoken by 1.3 billion plus people around the world."

[Roger Kaputnik]

Instead of trotting out spokesmodel Betsy, why can't Harding answer for himself? It does not seem very manly.

[CaddyRich]

Actually, learning Chinese culture can be beneficial to our MCHS students, since most of our best and brightest "rip off the rear view mirror" and never look back - moving to locations with good paying jobs and economic benefits beyond a casino, an outlet mall, and a beach.

[Ang]

Instead of trotting out spokesmodel Betsy, why can't Harding answer for himself? It does not seem very manly.

she's got to do SOMETHING to earn the 60K annual payroll.

[Roger Kaputnik]

Hey, Ang, have I regained my spot as the #2 poster? Gad, I am not busy enough!!!!

[Ang]

Yup you are. Didn't take you long to catch up. At this rate you'll be ahead of SSder in no time!

[Dave]

Also, the superintendent did not go on the trip this year - he went last year - but this time it was a delegation of educators from MCAS.

Ahem.

From the article quoted in the first post in this thread:

Team members include Kathryn Lee, vice president of the school board; Jan Radford, director of curriculum and instruction; Peggy Scope, principal of Barker Middle School; Jeanne Ann Cannon, counselor at Barker Middle School; Kent Davis, principal of Eastport Early Learning Center; and Deborah Langley, a pre-kindergarten teacher at Eastport.

I think that upper quote should read "educator" rather than "educators," because, assuming an educator is one who actually educates, I see five administrative people and one actual teacher.

Nice to hear it isn't costing taxpayer dollars for the trip -- other than the opportunity costs of what the administrative types would actually be doing if they were at their jobs instead of off on this junket.

[Ang]

Nice to hear it isn't costing taxpayer dollars for the trip -- other than the opportunity costs of what the administrative types would actually be doing if they were at their jobs instead of off on this junket.

I wonder if they're still collecting their pay checks?