Medfield School Committee Approves High School Trip to China

The Medfield School Committee unanimously voted to approve the proposed high school’s trip to China in fall 2011 at Monday’s meeting.

The trip is part of the Medfield China Exchange Initiative and was founded as a result of the Chinese language program offered at Medfield High School since 2008, according to Medfield Public Schools' website.

“The initiative is a partnership with the Bengbu Middle School #6, which is located in Bengbu, Anhui, China and Medfield Public Schools,” according to the Medfield Public Schools' website.

In 2010, 10 students from the Bengbu Middle School #6 participated in a 20-day student exchange program in Medfield. It was the first ever student exchange program at Medfield, according to the Medfield Public Schools' website and the students stayed with host families in town.

“These exchange students attended classes at the and Medfield High School,” the website said. “During their time at school, they participated in many student activities and made presentations to the Medfield students and staff.”

The Bengbu students shared knowledge of Chinese philosophy as well as Bengbu history and geography.

Now, for three weeks in October, students involved in the China Exchange program will get an opportunity to share American culture with Bengbu Middle School #6 students and experience Chinese culture firsthand. 

"There will be a lot of work and learning that occurs on this trip, it is not a vacation," Maguire told committee members at its Jan. 24 meeting. Maguire said students would be required to complete certain assignments and projects and there would be some type of communication needed between teachers and students regarding the curriculum the exchange students would miss while in China. 

The following are goals and objectives of the exchange partnership between Medfield and Bengbu Middle School #6, outlined directly from the Medfield Public Schools' website. 

Goals and Objectives of the Exchange Partnership:

 The partnership between the Bengbu #6 Middle School and the Medfield Public Schools provides a unique opportunity for education of Medfield students and the greater community. The relationship between the schools is strong and is built upon a desire to improve education of the children in the respective communities.

 For Medfield there are several key benefits of the partnership:

•  To provide students with the opportunity to learn about global education and the important relationship between China and the United States.
• To expand the ability of students to learn the Chinese language.
• To expose students to the rich cultural and social diversity of China.
• To provide students the opportunity to learn the history and current condition of China.

The Medfield Public Schools are committed to an improvement plan that will achieve the goals and objectives of the partnership through a planned effort to make improvements to the existing curriculum including:

• The expansion of the current high school Chinese language program to a sequential, sustainable Chinese language programs in grades 7-12.
• Development of an articulated curriculum of Chinese studies in grades 6-12 through the language, social studies, art and home economics departments.
• Create opportunities for the respective teaching staff of the Bengbu  Middle School #6 and the Medfield Public Schools to participate in joint professional development planning to create units of instruction.
• Utilize technology to create meaningful opportunities for direct student learning and interaction. This can include for example email, videoconferencing, podcasts, wikis and blogging.