Are we really welcome?
Sara recommended the following article. It reminded her of the 三下乡 activities that some universities arrange for their students to experience rural China. It also raises questions about our Volunteer Program. We try to prevent such exploitation by examining the motivation of volunteers during selection, but can more be done from the side of [...]
A day in western Hunan — visiting an Innovation Grants project
RCEF is supporting the Miao Support Net, an organization in western Hunan, to organize training for rural teachers. The organization is completely initiated and run by local teachers. Like the local population, the organizers almost all belong to the Miao ethnic group. I recently paid them a visit, and here are some [...]
关爱三四天（二）
什么是RCEF模式？这是我在关爱这几天思考的最多的一个问题。
RCEF在扶持农村教育中已经积累了一定的经验，我们需要一个合适而且合理的模式去推广RCEF理念以及由此寻求实际工作的不断突破。在公立学校严密的等级观念和传统教育的指导下，我们基本达成共识：发展学生参与式的教育改革需要一定的时间去渗透甚至打破一些旧有的规则和观念。另一方面完全有志愿者组织的学校又面临着大跃进似的冒进思想，以及由高频率的人员流动和实验性的教育思维带来的管理上的困难。那么，类似关爱小学这种由村民自发组织的民办小学加少数志愿者的帮助能不能成为一个参考模式？在这种模式下，教师管理采用聘用制度，由当地的适当教育程度的年轻毕业生和少数离退休老教师组成。在此基础之上，由志愿者有步骤的循序渐进的把RCEF的一些先进的教育理念和方法传授给老师。此外志愿者也可以亲自参加教学活动，开设一些激发学生学习兴趣和引导学生掌握合理的学习方法的课程。
Pen Pal Visit
Guan Ai Elementary School and Trinity School of Menlo Park, California piloted a pen pals project this year. Students from both schools have written each other letters introducing their lives and cultures. Most recently, students, teachers, parents, and friends of Trinity School traveled to China to visit Guan Ai School and a report is below. [...]
