Efforts by the Interna-tional Education department to promote understanding of Chinese language and culture and build ties with China has resulted in the granting of a prestigious designation to School District 43.
The district's Confucius Classroom, in operation since April 2008, has been re-classified as a Confucius Institute, a development that could mean more cultural opportunities and grants for local programs.
SD43 assistant superintendent Patricia Gartland, who heads the district's International Ed. program and was recently given responsibility for continuing education, said the new classification puts SD43 on par with universities and colleges around the world.
"It builds our network because now we're linked into this network of Confucius Institutes all over the world, on every continent, at every prestigious university," Gartland said.
The designation brings with it a $150,000 start-up grant and opportunities for more cultural programs and linkages with China, she added, saying, "We're just thrilled with this opportunity and I think the board of education has been so extremely supportive of this [Confucius] classroom and that's why we've been re-classified."
She said it's extremely rare for a K-to-12 public school system to receive the designation and it will ultimately aid the district's efforts in promoting its international program, where students from around the world pay to attend school here.
Approximately a thousand foreign students attend classes in SD43, generating about $7 million for SD43 coffers.
But the Confucius Classroom got its start only recently with the establishment of evening Chinese language and cultural classes. Currently, about a thousand students pay $200 to attend these classes. There are classes for all ages, Gartland said, and many of the students are youngsters learning Mandarin to continue a family legacy while others are high school students looking for an added edge when applying for a job.
"It's becoming more helpful if somebody has some knowledge of Mandarin language when working in our city," Gartland said.
While China has its own reasons for promoting its culture, language and history, Gartland said the district's reasons for establishing a Confucius Institute have to do with its desire to promote understanding, share knowledge and build bridges between nations.
"We seek first to understand and then to be understood, and to build open channels of communication and interact through language and activities with other cultures," she said. "We're looking to build a better future though our world through understanding and friendships."
