Rutherford County students, parents and educators
welcomed Tuesday in Hangzhou
HANGZHOU,
China — Several Rutherford County schoolchildren, parents and teachers were
welcomed to China Tuesday as part of a unique educational exchange organized by
MTSU.
The
28-member delegation, in country for two weeks, will visit classrooms,
participate in enrichment activities and go with Chinese families for home
visits as part of the reciprocal exchange with Dongcheng Education Group of
Hangzhou Normal University.
It is
the third such trip led by MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee and his wife,
retired Murfreesboro City Schools teacher Elizabeth McPhee. Rutherford students
visited China in 2012 and 2014, and Dongcheng students came to Murfreesboro in
2013 and 2015.
“While
there are many other cultural-exchange programs between nations, I think this
program is one of the most unique and one of the most successful in the world,”
President McPhee said.
Dongcheng
oversees a network of magnet-style schools in Hangzhou, allowing Rutherford
students to participate in classroom activities during the visit, McPhee said.
Also,
Elizabeth McPhee, aided by teachers in the delegation, will conduct a joint
class for Chinese and American students, then host a workshop for Chinese
teachers.
“It
brings many aspects — education, culture, social, families — and we learn from
each other and respect each other,” President McPhee said.
Dongcheng
Chairman Lin Zhengfan thanked the McPhees and let them know that he plans to
extend the exchange in 2017 with a return visit to Murfreesboro.
“It’s
the fifth year of our exchange and I am so impressed by Mr. McPhee and Mrs.
McPhee,” Lin said.
The
delegation arrived Sunday in Shanghai, then traveled to Hangzhou Tuesday, where
they will spend most of their visit. They will also go to Beijing before
departing for home.
MTSU's
Confucius Institute, a joint effort between the Hangzhou and Murfreesboro
universities, oversees the annual exchange. Families paid their travel expenses
to China, but most housing and travel costs were covered by the institute and
Dongcheng.
Named
for the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius, the institute is sponsored by
China’s Education Ministry to promote Chinese language, history and culture
through tours, exchanges and university partnerships. There are more than 440
institutes in 120 countries.
Under
the leadership of Director Guanping Zheng, MTSU’s institute has helped teach
Chinese language and culture to more than 2,000 students in seven Tennessee
counties. It also offers long-distance language training via satellite TV and
the Internet.
MTSU
also recently opened its new Chinese Music and Cultural Center, which was
funded from a $1 million grant from Hanban, the headquarters operation of the
Confucius Institutes.
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