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Intro Letter

December 4, 2009           

Recently HNHS hosted Chinese School Principal, Liu Jang, as our distinguished foreign guest. Principal Jang leads a high school about the same size as HNHS, so he was particularly interested on the similarities and differences between Chinese and American educational systems. As we toured our school and several classrooms, it was apparent to me from my conversation with Mr. Jang, that our school benefits from many advantages that other educational systems have not yet attained.

Mr. Jang was in awe of the ways in which our teachers integrate technology into learning. Our 1:1 Moodle classrooms and LCD projectors were of particular interest to him.  In Mr. Wilcoxson’s classroom, Mr. Jang (a former math teacher) demonstrated a complex math problem to our students using Scott’s newly purchased Smart Board technology. The universal language of mathematics does indeed break down the language barrier.

In Chinese high schools there is no vocational technical or special education programming. Students take a test at the age of ten, and depending on their scores, they will go to vocational school or college prep school. There is no tradition of a comprehensive education like we have here at HNHS. We visited a special needs classroom where Mr. Jang observed students working to their full potential through adaptations and accommodations appropriate to their ability. Our journalism class interviewed Mr. Jang and I pointed out, to his surprise, the opinion page of our school newspaper where our students have the freedom to express themselves and even criticize the administration.

Our Machine Trades class provided a great example of how HNHS provides vocational programming. Mr. Jang observed our students make parts for Shuttleworth, Inc., a successful manufacturer and Huntington employer. We traveled with the class to Shuttleworth, where Mr. Jang observed a Shuttleworth employee explain to one of our students the corrections that needed to be made on a part designed by the student for use in the factory. Through our translator, Mr. Jang expressed that his school’s biggest challenge was to find ways to make learning relevant to the student; to teach them to apply their learning. After reflecting on the classrooms we had visited at HNHS, I was very proud of how our teachers are approaching this challenge.

Both Chinese and American young people are subject to the emerging and transforming possibilities of globalization. I expect that both our educational systems will also be transforming to meet these challenges. Personal connections and cross-cultural experiences will help educators cooperate in our common purpose of preparing students to be successful contributors to the peace and happiness of a new global reality.

Respectfully,

 

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