Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Washington, DC * 2:00 PM – As part of her focus on education and reaching out to students for her upcoming trip to China, First Lady Michelle Obama will visit the Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School – a Chinese-immersion, International Baccalaureate, elementary school in Washington, DC. At the event, Mrs. Obama will encourage students around the U.S. to follow her trip. The First Lady will deliver brief, informal remarks following a 6th grade presentation on their 2013 trip to China. The First Lady will also visit with pre-Kindergarten students in their classroom to experience their language learning firsthand. The First Lady’s remarks and the 6th grade presentation will be open press; the visit with Pre-Kindergarten students will be covered by a pool.

Seriously? 5th graders -- to one like Mitt Romney talked about when he had no idea he was being taped, for example?

Bureau Engraving and Printing where the US currency is made is a factory and a tourist attraction. The Chinese tours that factory while in DC, do it would be totally acceptable for American to tour their factories in China.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:so don't go. sheesh. people are so unbelievably petty. its an INTERNATIONAL school!! And if someone pulls their kid "because of the trip" I call bullshit. They wanted to leave anyway and just found something to pin it on.

It's not an international school. It's a public school in the District of Columbia whose mission is, or at least should be, to serve the children of DC.

Roger that

And all the kids that did go on the trip weren't children of DC? Seriously, this is so annoying. It's a public school whose charter is to educate DC children about the language and culture of China. A trip to China is an ambitious and noble goal, and it sounds like they are trying to make it doable for all the kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:so don't go. sheesh. people are so unbelievably petty. its an INTERNATIONAL school!! And if someone pulls their kid "because of the trip" I call bullshit. They wanted to leave anyway and just found something to pin it on.

It's not an international school. It's a public school in the District of Columbia whose mission is, or at least should be, to serve the children of DC.

Roger that

Anonymous wrote:so don't go. sheesh. people are so unbelievably petty. its an INTERNATIONAL school!! And if someone pulls their kid "because of the trip" I call bullshit. They wanted to leave anyway and just found something to pin it on.

It's not an international school. It's a public school in the District of Columbia whose mission is, or at least should be, to serve the children of DC.

Anonymous wrote:Awesome! Locked doors! Fire hazards! Toxic fumes! 14 hour work days! Underage workers!

Seriously, are you the moron from YY that writes for Greater Greater Education? How ignorant of Chinese labor practices can you be?

No I don't write for Greater Greater Education, but thanks for referring me to a cool blog!

I have personally toured factories in China. Yes, they have them.

Regarding low wages, unsafe practices, etc: These in themselves can be educational to see. Seeing such things up close can help to motivate slackers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From what I hear those parents and kids who went on the trip had a great time.

The idea of taking a trip to China has traction. Obviously there are ways to improve it.

For example, I think the post above about visiting factories is actually a good idea.

Why?!? You really think that's appropriate for 5th graders. OK

Uh, have you never heard of taking a factory tour? Lots of families in this country go on factory tours.

Example: Visit the Harley-Davidson factory in PA. The Hershey factory in the same state. The Ben & Jerry's factory in Vermont. The Anheuser-Busch brewery tour in St. Louis, MO.

They're great family fun. Although the tours above come with some expected company propaganda, there are important lessons to be had in any case - how stuff is made, and that real people have actual jobs making things. And some jobs are more interesting than others.

So you think there's are Chinese equivalents?!?

They don't have factory tours in China. Factories there are factories not amusement theme parks.

Awesome! Locked doors! Fire hazards! Toxic fumes! 14 hour work days! Underage workers!

Seriously, are you the moron from YY that writes for Greater Greater Education? How ignorant of Chinese labor practices can you be?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From what I hear those parents and kids who went on the trip had a great time.

The idea of taking a trip to China has traction. Obviously there are ways to improve it.

For example, I think the post above about visiting factories is actually a good idea.

Why?!? You really think that's appropriate for 5th graders. OK

Uh, have you never heard of taking a factory tour? Lots of families in this country go on factory tours.

Example: Visit the Harley-Davidson factory in PA. The Hershey factory in the same state. The Ben & Jerry's factory in Vermont. The Anheuser-Busch brewery tour in St. Louis, MO.

They're great family fun. Although the tours above come with some expected company propaganda, there are important lessons to be had in any case - how stuff is made, and that real people have actual jobs making things. And some jobs are more interesting than others.

Anonymous wrote:From what I hear those parents and kids who went on the trip had a great time.

The idea of taking a trip to China has traction. Obviously there are ways to improve it.

For example, I think the post above about visiting factories is actually a good idea.

Why?!? You really think that's appropriate for 5th graders. OK

From what I hear those parents and kids who went on the trip had a great time.

The idea of taking a trip to China has traction. Obviously there are ways to improve it.

For example, I think the post above about visiting factories is actually a good idea.