September, 2005

I. Teachers and Teaching

1. Reform in Teacher Training in Weifang, China
Chinese teachers used to take part in professional development in an appointed training institute in their summer holidays. Educational administrative in Weifang City, Shandong Province begin to endow more freedom to teachers to choose their interested training programs and tailor the training program according to their own needs. At the same time, Department of Education in the city established a Consultant Committee for Teacher Training composed of experts to supervise the quality of the teacher training programs.

2. Teacher Ratings Called Lax
By the end of the school year, every teacher of every major subject in every school will be highly qualified. However, it is said that the reality will be less rosy by the experts who have analyzed how states are responding to President Bush's education law and its review of teacher quality.

II. Learners and Learning

1. Study Smart with These Sites
There's a wealth of free reference information -- even entire books -- on the Web that students will find useful. You can find some of the best links in this article.

2. Twenty Foreign Languages will be Taught in Middles Schools in Beijing
Experimental Classes of foreign languages will be opened in 67 middle schools in Beijing. 20 kinds of foreign languages including French, Germany, Spanish, Italian, Japanese and Korean will be taught. Students will learn their major foreign languages six-hour per week besides time for other majors.

III. Leaders and Leadership

1. New Grants Awarded To Help Charter Schools Expand
The U.S. Department of Education today announced five grantees for the Credit Enhancement for Charter School Facilities Grant program. Together, these grantees will serve approximately 48,000 students in 120 charter schools in California, Delaware, Texas, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.

2. National School Plan Suggested
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano today will unveil a national plan for education reform that includes universal preschool for children across the country, a standardized curriculum for all 50 states, full-day kindergarten and year-round schools.

3. Representatives in Chinese People’s Council Disagree with Enacting 12-Year Compulsory Education Right Now
Most representatives in People's Council do not agree to extend current 9-year compulsory education to 12-year compulsory education. They claimed that it is still too early to popularize 12-year compulsory education because of following three reasons: inadequate national financial investment for compulsory education, textbooks are expensive for students, and many children of immigrant workers from rural areas cannot afford 12-year compulsory education.

IV. Curriculum

1. Nearly All Michigan School Districts Meet Improvement Standards
Nearly all of Michigan's 542 school districts measured for improvements they make in students' reading, writing and math abilities made adequate progress this year.

2. Top Mathematicians Gather on Study of Differential Geometry
More than 70 world-renowned mathematicians and physicians including Ludvig Faddeev, former president of the International Mathematical Union, gathered in Tianjin Sunday attending the annual academic conference on differential geometry. The scholars from 18 countries and regions, including China, will also pay tribute to renowned mathematician Shiing-shen Chern for his contribution in the field of differential geometry, at the23rd Conference on Differential Geometry Method of Theoretical Physic held in China's prestigious Nankai University.

V. Family and Community

1. Million Father March Escorts Children to School
Cities across the country are calling on a million fathers to take a little time out of their busy morning routine, get to work a little late if necessary, so they can walk hand in hand with their children to the schoolhouse doors on the first day.

2. Schools Get Smarter about Food
Public Schools revamped what was offered in the vending machines. Soft drinks were booted out, and water, sports drinks and juice were offered instead. Granola bars and baked chips replaced candy bars and fried chips. Food for thought is taking on a new meaning as students across the nation begin a new school year.

3. How do Your Children Obtain Knowledge about Safety?
Many Chinese parents think that their children may be hurt or bullied at school though schools organize activities to teach children how to protect themselves. A recent survey suggests that parents encourage children get safety knowledge from public media such as TV, newspaper and exhibitions.