Teachers take skills to China

CLOSE BOND: Masterton Intermediate School principal Russell "Mr T" Thompson shares a hongi with fellow educationalist Ms Yang Shuang, who was at the school with a colleague from Masterton's sister city Changchun in China for on a teacher exchange programme. PHOTOS/NATHAN CROMBIE

A six-week teacher exchange scheme launched in Masterton last week could forge changes in education across China, says scheme organiser Eric Blown.

A pair of education researchers from Masterton sister city Changchun - Ms Yang Shuang (Audrey) and Mr Shi Caichun (Jack) - are former middle school teachers today working with the Education Bureau of Changchun Municipality, Mr Blown said.

A powhiri was held for the pair at Masterton Intermediate School with action songs performed by the school kapa haka group.

Principal Russell Thompson and deputy principal Cam Maunder welcomed the two educators as part of a group also including Jonathan Hooker, Masterton District councillor and Masterton International Relations Committee (MIRC) chairman, Mr Blown and his wife Edna, and past Wairarapa College teacher Don Simpson. Mr Simpson and wife Lorna founded the teacher exchange programme after becoming in 1978 the first teachers from the West to teach in post-revolution China.

Changchun is the capital and with a population of 3.2 million people the largest city of Jilin province, in China's northeast.

Mr Blown said Ms Yang Shuang will start her exchange working with Room 12 at MIS and Mr Shi Caichun will launch his exchange work at nearby Hadlow School.

The pair will stay with Masterton families during the exchange and also will teach at 24 other Wairarapa primary, intermediate and secondary schools, which will each host the visiting teachers for up to three days.

"Besides teaching aspects of Chinese culture and language, the teachers will be learning about New Zealand methods of student assessment, managing individual differences, and project-based learning," Mr Blown said.

"They hope the links they establish with local teachers will be ongoing through internet-based networking such as QQ with English teachers in Changchun," he said.

"It is hoped the exchange experience will enable the teachers to promote change in teaching methodology in Changchun with implications for teaching throughout China."

Whareama School principal Darren Kerr was the latest teacher from the district to travel to Changchun to teach as part of the long-standing teacher exchange scheme.

Masterton District Council had contributed $1000 to the cost of his travel and accommodation and the Changchun Education Bureau provided a translator.

He spent three weeks during his visit teaching students aged from 5 to 15 at a number of schools throughout Changchun.

MIRC oversaw the teacher exchange programme for Mr Kerr and linked events during his visit also included The Sister Cities Half Marathon and The American and Oceanian Regions Economic and Trade Fair.

Mr Blown said Masterton District Council would soon invite schools in the district to nominate candidates for the next teacher exchange in April and May next year.