Around the World to Examine What we do Around the Corner

Tomorrow morning I will begin a journey to China and into an opportunity to examine my beliefs about education. High School Reform has only recently stopped being the leading topic in education, only being surpassed by concerns about the budget. It remains, though, as a crucial need. Too many students are not graduating from high school. I sincerely believe that one drop-out is one too many.

The Chinese Education System pushes students into 16 hours of studying each day, seven days a week. PBS captured this in a video series: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/episodes/china-prep/video-full-episode/2722/. Take a look at “Part 3: Grueling Schedule for Teachers and Students” Imagine asking our students to simply consider this way of life. That would be a passionate conversation to say the least.

As I watched the PBS video detailing the lives of Chinese students in their senior year, I struggled to comprehend a system where parents worry that exercise might take away from time or energy that could be spent studying; "Don't waste too much energy in the morning" a dad told his daughter after she happily reported jogging for five minutes.

The students reported studying for 16 hours a day. It seemed that no matter how early the students that were followed arrived for school, there were always other students who were already there, hard at work on their studies. Rules banning laptops, phones, dating, and sports at lunch keep students focused strictly on their studies. One student emphatically stated that he wanted to be the #1 scholar. His advisor fussed at him and cautioned him to only focus on getting into the best two Universities.

Throughout the videos, I was comparing these students to the seniors in our building and to my own children. Would I want this? As appealing as a class of compliant, driven students might seem to a teacher, would we want to give-up rich conversations, fuller lives, and the energy of an American High School? I am not advocating for a loose focus on Academics; our school is very successful, earning the State's Highest Academic Designation, "Honor School of Excellence." However, we also have Championship Ball teams, an award winning Band Program, a large Drama Department, clubs based around student interest, etc. The concept of the Comprehensive American High School is at odds with the Chinese system.

The clash of these two ideologies in my head as we travel will be troubling and exciting. I want the best for our kids, but is this the best?

The journey begins early on a Sunday morning following a Saturday evening Graduation, our school’s very first. During the Commencement Exercises, we will celebrate our students’ successes. I wonder what out Chinese counter-parts would think of them.

I look forward to sharing this journey with you.

This is a map of where we will be visiting during the 10 days in China: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=212486542522359423219.00049905cb32e1c5d7ead&z=4