School Days, Chinese Style

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Hello Friends:

I have visited a number of schools while in China, and have spent time talking with teachers, students, and parents. I am impressed by the hardworking students and the interest of parents in getting the very best education possible for their children. But China has a problem. Even thought they are working hard to build new schools, there are not enough schools for all of the children in China. In fact, there are around 20 million children who are unable to go to school. Think about that for a minute. Imagine a life in which you would never have the opportunity to learn to read and write. Your math skills would also be very basic. Now, imagine trying to go to the store, trying to find your way around, select the right items, and pay the correct amount for your purchases. It would be very, very difficult to do.

Because there are not enough schools for the children of China, the competition to get into a school, and to stay in school, is very fierce. Chinese students attend school for nine hours each day, and many of them take extra classes after school and on the weekends. Middle school students have an average of five hours of homework each night. Students work very hard to make high marks on their exams, so that they will be able to go on to the next level of education.

There are no classes available for students with special needs, If you are physically challenged in any way, you will not attend school in China.

I met some very hardworking and bright teachers who are trying to make changes so that more children will be able to get an education in China. They are opening small schools, like the Dandelion School outside of Beijing, and are trying to get more people interested in providing education for everyone.

I also visited The Children's Palace in Shanghai. The Children's Palace is a place where children from the ages of 4 to 16 can take special classes like art, computers, dance, music, and foreign language. I visited on a Sunday afternoon, and the Palace was hopping! It is a wonderful way to provide rich and exciting learning experiences for the children of China.

No country is perfect. China has its challenges, and so does the United States. But I am very proud to live in a country that believes in education for everyone. I want every American to realize how important and essential it is! I appreciate my fellow teachers at Samsula Elementary, who put so much love, care, and effort into giving all of you their very best. And I love my hardworking students, who love to learn, and who always give me their very best.

Want to see more photos of the Dandelion School? Log onto www.dandelionschool.org