Chinese studies program set to launch in Smithfield

SMITHFIELD - He didn't literally open a fortune cookie, but School Superintendent Robert O'Brien has received some welcome news: The Chinese government has decided to make available up to five teachers, instead of the expected two, for the School Department's pioneering Chinese studies program to be launched Oct. 14.

The change means that instead of busing elementary students to a central location for the after-school program, the School Department expects to schedule classes at all four elementary schools in addition to the high school.

At least, that will be the case if O'Brien can find living quarters for the additional educators, preferably with the families of local teachers, this year. Host families will be paid rent and living expenses, courtesy of the Chinese government, O'Brien said.

The local program, which the Chinese government intends to use as a global model, will formally begin with a day of ceremonies next Wednesday for local, state, and Chinese dignitaries.

Luncheon at the high school will feature a unique blend of cuisine: Deep-dish pizza and sandwiches from the Chicago Uno Grill and "authentic" Chinese food from an area restaurant yet to be selected.

As for libations, a tea ceremony is on tap, to be performed by a delegation from the China National Tea Museum.

The pizza isn't as "foreign" to the day as one might expect. Smithfield's Gary McCauley, the restaurant's general manager who is donating part of the meal, is married to a native of Beijing whom he met when both were attending Johnson & Wales University. He and his wife, Jie, have two children in the school system.

The educational program in Chinese language and culture was made possible through a five-year, $500,000 grant from the Chinese government, in cooperation with the Confucius Institute at Bryant University.

O'Brien said no taxpayer funds are involved in the voluntary program, which will involve about an hour of classwork after school in eight-week segments.

Depending on demand, he said, up to four of the segments could be offered during each school year, and he urged parents to sign their children up. Each segment will be limited to a class of 20, but a second class could be added if needed, he said.

Details are not entirely worked out, especially because of the possibility of additional teachers and school settings, but previous planning called for two classes a week at the William Winsor school, headquarters for the elementary-level program. One class would be for grades K-2, and the other for grades 3-5.

O'Brien said he expects similar arrangements at other schools.

The high school was expected to offer one or two after-school sessions a week in addition to a class during regular school hours.

Current plans will require parents to arrange their children's late transportation home, but that decision will be reviewed later, O'Brien said.

According to Bridget Morisseau, principal at Winsor and director of the elementary Confucius program, the goal is to promote understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture.

She said the Smithfield public school program is the first of its kind in the country.

Morisseau said that planning also calls for providing classes in Mandarin Chinese to the public "in the near future."

Next week's formal dedication, which is by invitation only because of limited space, will include about 50 educators, administrators and other officials on the state and local level, including Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts, Deborah A. Gist, commissioner of elementary and secondary education; and Bryant President Ronald K. Machtley.

The day will include tours of specially decorated and equipped classrooms at Winsor and at the high school, whose principal, Dan Kelley, is the other co-director of the Confucius Classroom program.

The $500,000 grant comes from China's Office of Chinese Language Council International, also known as Hanban.

O'Brien has said that despite the Chinese funding, the curriculum will be exclusively controlled by the local School Department.