Bay City, Michigan 48706
Front Page 03/29/2024 03:16 About us
www.mybaycity.com February 17, 2008
(Prior Story)   Rotary ArTicle 2339   (Next Story)

Bay City Principal Looks at China, Japan Schools, Says Ours More Creative

We Have a Beautiful Blend of Rigor and Creativity, Gerstacker Fellow States

February 17, 2008       Leave a Comment
By: Dave Rogers

Printer Friendly Story View

Last Weeks program - February 12
Bay City Principal Looks at China, Japan Schools, Says Ours More Creative



Kim Prime, principal from the Bay City school system, is a fellow of the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation who was among leaders to travel to China and Japan in search of better educational methods.

The group's year-long study program was charged with a specific task: "find out what they do that is better than we do."

The general conclusion is that Asian children study harder and develop academic skills "almost to the exclusion of any other talent," said Ms. Prime, speaker last Tuesday at the Rotary Club of Bay City.

In Asia, education is more cut and dried, win or lose, she observed. Bad grades bring great dishonor on the entire family. "However, they fear that it is becoming too one-sided and that the whole child is being forgotten," she said, and are loosening standards after watching how U.S. schools operate.

Meanwhile, American schools "produce students with more diverse talents," she summarized. "We celebrate a balance between the curriculum and our lives. We have a beautiful blend of rigor and creativity. The Asian countries are looking for ways to instill creativity."

"There is room for improvement in American schools but we do pretty well," she said. "Kids are kids, and theirs are just like ours," she said the study group found.

The quality of creativity can't be taught, but it can be killed, she said. Asian students study all day and have study clubs at night. Those who don't measure up find themselves on the lower rungs of the economic ladder. "Test scores drive everything," she observed, adding:

"In contrast, Americans have a broader, more individualized view of success."

The U.S. group is partnering with Saginaw Valley State University to "create a cohort of leaders," she explained. "It is our responsibility as educational leaders to do better."

The group traveled to Shanghai, China, and Tokoshima, Japan, last July in their quest for information about Asian educational methods. In China the children were not in school so information gathering was more difficult, but the Japanese children were attending. Among teachers in the group was Marilyn Abbs, who helped with the Rotary presentation.

Asian parents whose children do well on standardized tests can use their children's success as stepping stones to better jobs or more pay, the Bay City principal noted.

Some of the major differences in Asian education are that the students get to school on their own and provide food preparation and maintenance of the school. "This is not a bad idea, getting kids involved in taking care of the school," observed Ms. Prime.

In Asia, bad behavior is tolerated on the basis that the child, no matter what their deportment, has a right to education, she said.###




CLUB NEWS


Ron Bloomfield updated the club on plans for the historic kiosk, benches and other features that the club will fund at the Pere Marquette Depot. An location on the walk approaching the West entrance has been designated and the primary features selected.

The Love Bag project is scheduled to run for six weeks starting in mid-March. Drop off sites are being selected where anyone can donate a duffel bag or pack to be distributed to foster children to carry their belongings in. The Bay City Rotarians are partnering with the Lions.

The President's Challenge food drive has been a great success, and continues to run. To this point the club has donated almost 1,200 items to food pantries around the area.

Thesauruses have been received, labeled and organized for delivery, said Cindy Luczak and Kim Prime. Volunteers should sign up to deliver to the schools.

Community Grants totaling $10,000 have been approved for the year. In keeping with the club's focus on community beautification and infrastructure grants were approved for the following:
  • Riverfront Workcamp / First Presbyterian Church to purchase portable air conditioners for workers who will be staying at the church this summer while working in the community to repair and improve homes>
  • State Theater for their marquee restoration project.
  • Pine Ridge Cemetery for planting of trees along Tuscola Road.
  • Bijou Orchestra for "Brunch at the Station" marketing materials. The programs will be offered at the restored Pere Marquette Station.
  • Bay City Rowing Club for repair of the porch and Gazebo at the boat house on the Middle Grounds Island.
  • Bay City in Bloom for litter signs at community events, and for identification signs for pocket parks through the area and Riverwalk.

    Upcoming Programs

    (See the official schedule at RotaryBayCity.org)

  • February 19 The Bay Commitment - Jerome Yantz & Sue Murphy

  • February 26 Digital Television - Mike Tamme, Chief Engineer WNEM TV-5




    CLUB ANNOUNCEMENTS

  • Vocational Days are right around the corner. 88 students are scheduled for March 4, and 158 are scheduled for March 18.

  • The club will host a dinner honoring the Women of Rotary at the Doubletree on March 28.



    Visit RotaryBayCity.org


    Printer Friendly Story View
    Prior Article

    February 10, 2020
    by: Rachel Reh
    Family Winter Fun Fest is BACC Hot Spot for 2/10/2020
    Next Article

    February 2, 2020
    by: Kathy Rupert-Mathews
    MOVIE REVIEW: "Just Mercy" ... You Will Shed Tears, or at Least You Should
    Agree? or Disagree?


    Dave Rogers

    Dave Rogers is a former editorial writer for the Bay City Times and a widely read,
    respected journalist/writer in and around Bay City.
    (Contact Dave Via Email at carraroe@aol.com)

    More from Dave Rogers

    Send This Story to a Friend!       Letter to the editor       Link to this Story
    Printer-Friendly Story View


    --- Advertisments ---
         


  • 0200 Nd: 03-25-2024 d 4 cpr 0






    12/31/2020 P3v3-0200-Ad.cfm

    SPONSORED LINKS



    12/31/2020 drop ads P3v3-0200-Ad.cfm


    Designed at OJ Advertising, Inc. (V3) (v3) Software by Mid-Michigan Computer Consultants
    Bay City, Michigan USA
    All Photographs and Content Copyright © 1998 - 2024 by OJA/MMCC. They may be used by permission only.
    P3V3-0200 (1) 0   ID:Default   UserID:Default   Type:reader   R:x   PubID:mbC   NewspaperID:noPaperID
      pid:1560   pd:11-18-2012   nd:2024-03-25   ax:2024-03-29   Site:5   ArticleID:2339   MaxA: 999999   MaxAA: 999999
    claudebot