Smithfield opens new 'Confucius Classroom'

SMITHFIELD - It wasn't unusual that Tommy Kilduff, 8, sang a song with more than 200 of his Winsor School classmates at an assembly last Thursday - except that the first verse was in Chinese.

Third-grader Tommy and his peers were greeted that morning - also in Chinese - by Principal Bridget Morisseau, who later confided, "It took a lot of practice, and I did the best I could."

With the kids sitting on the cafeteria floor, a bevy of grown-ups representing the state, the town, and Chinese government sponsors officially launched Smithfield's pioneering "Confucius Classroom" program, a five-year, $500,000 project aimed at introducing students from kindergarten through 12th grade to Chinese language and culture.

Said to be the first public school effort of its kind in the nation, the program is entirely financed by the Chinese government, in cooperation with the Confucius Institute at Bryant University.

The day's ceremonies, at Winsor and the high school, brought out Bryant President Ronald K. Machtley clad in a scarlet silk jacket that he bought in Shanghai on one of his many trips to China, where the university has cultivated strong educational and economic partnerships through its U.S.-China Institute.

Machtley noted that the local public school program is essential in preparing students early for a globally-oriented future.

"In your life, if you are not engaged in an international culture you'll be at a significant disadvantage," he told students at the high school. "We are living in an inter-dependent world in which we can no longer be isolationists."

Winsor's Tommy Kilduff didn't need convincing, asserting after the ceremony that he's interested in joining the optional after-school program.

"It's pretty cool," he said of the classroom that Winsor has decorated for the classes with Chinese lanterns, photos of Chinese scenes, and even a floor-model abacus that stands amid computers paid for as part of the grant.

It's hoped that as the program develops, the computers can be used not just as learning aids, but to provide a direct link to a school in China.

"There's a lot to do in there," said Tommy, adding that the program is also practical because "There are kind of a lot of Chinese people coming to the U.S."

At the high school, junior Marissa Mulcahey, 15, has already started a Chinese language and culture class, and said of her exposure so far, "It's breathtaking."

Especially valuable, she said, are discussions on such issues as China's one-child-per-family policy.

"We talk a lot about how our views differ from theirs," she said, adding that the exchanging of ideas has whetted her appetite to visit China.

Already a veteran of a Chinese trip is junior Madeline MacKay, 16, who spent 11 days there as part of a five-week study program she took at Bryant.

Madeline, granddaughter of Town Council member Maxine Cavanagh, who also attended the dedication, said the local educational opportunities "open the eyes of everyone to the different cultures in the world."

The Chinese government is supplying five teachers for the program, which will be headquartered at Winsor and the high school, but will offer classes at the other schools, as well.

According to Superintendent Robert O'Brien, no taxpayer funds are involved - and even much of the multicultural food offered at a luncheon last Thursday was donated.

The menu included "authentic" cui pi gi - Chinese crispy chicken - from the Lucky Garden restaurant in North Providence, and "Primo Pepperoni Pizza" from the Chicago Uno Grill in Smithfield, whose general manager, Gary McCauley, is married to a native of Beijing and has two children in the school system.

A highlight of the luncheon was a tea ceremony performed by a member of the China National Tea Museum.

The day also included an unveiling of plaques to be placed outside the two dedicated classrooms, presented by Hong Yang, director of Bryant's U.S.-China and Confucius Institutes.

He told students that as their interest in the program develops, it's likely that "You will travel to China and be able to stand on top of the Great Wall."

O'Brien said that the classes will "help our students become global citizens and leaders," and that the education they'll be getting in the program "is necessary not just for economics, but for international understanding."

Machtley said that because of the complexity of the Chinese language, it's important for students to begin studying it before their college years.

He said that especially because of cultural differences, lines of communication are increasingly important between the two countries, and that educational programs provide "the ability to talk."

Among others offering encouragement at the proceedings were Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts and Deborah Gist, state commissioner of elementary and secondary education.

Roberts told the Winsor students, "It's so important that we bring the world together, so we can understand each other. She noted that while Chinese is difficult to learn, "at your age it's an easy language."

High School Principal Dan Kelley said the Confucius program offers the school system a way to meet "the challenge of a small suburban community to give its students exposure to the outside world."

Richard Iannitelli, chairman of the School Committee, told students that if they have the urge to travel, "Now it can be done from your classroom."