District 212 welcomes Chinese delegation to Leyden

A delegation from China visited West Leyden to learn about the American education system and to encourage a partnership that benefits Chinese and American students.

The visitors were invited to Leyden to learn about America's education system in general and the district's methods specifically.

District 212 administrators and the AASA, the School Superintendents Association, organized the two-day event that also included about 40 guest administrators from school districts, including Barrington Community Unit School District 220 that has a total immersion Mandarin language program.

AASA is a professional organization for more than 13,000 education leaders in the United States and throughout the world. The association is an advocate for quality public education for all students, and a champion of students' causes nationwide.

Tara Gao, a business and cultural exchange specialist with AASA, accompanied the delegation to the school and briefly addressed all participants. She said the purpose of the conference was "to strengthen the relationship and partnership between China and America. Today's goal is to learn from each other and to share information. It is important for us to communicate with people from all over the world who have a passion for education."

During the two-day conference, the Chinese delegation toured the school and visited various classes such as fine arts and special education, as well as the new student cafeteria and commons, library and the state-of-the-art fitness center. They participated in a panel discussion that gave them the opportunity to speak with administrators and teachers about curriculum and co-curricular activities. Small group sessions included topics such as giving student leaders a voice in school matters; and the use of technology as a potent teaching tool.

"We learn from each other," said Gao, referring to the conference participants. "There are differences in teaching styles, but there are also similarities. It's amazing when you see we are more similar than different."

Polyak added that "even though there was a language barrier, we were able to use interpreters to share some of the very best approaches to education from China and the United States. We showcased the very best that Leyden and education in the United States has to offer."

The delegation also heard from a few guest speakers including Illinois State Superintendent Tony Smith who welcomed the visitors to Illinois and spoke about the state's education goals.

Food is culture, so it was no surprise that one of the conference highlights was the meal prepared by Leyden's culinary students. The menu included crab Rangoon, Kung Pao beef, shrimp stir-fry, Mongolian beef, pineapple fried rice and mango pudding. And of course, tea - 24 different types of tea.

"I had a chance to debrief with the leaders of the delegation," Polyak recalled. "They said they've never had an experience like the one they had at West Leyden. One person said he never imagined a school that offers so many opportunities for students. Another commented that his favorite part was eating the lunch prepared by the students. Overall they couldn't have been more impressed."