Vice Minister of Education Chen Xiaoya Visits Confucius Classroom in Denver, USA

Recently Ms. Chen Xiaoya, Chinese Vice Minister of Education, visited the Confucius Classroom in Denver and presented the school with Chinese books during her stay in Denver for an international conference. She was accompanied by You Shaozhong, Minister Counselor of Education from the Chinese Embassy in the US, Zheng Fuzhi, Director of the Elementary Education Department Two, Shen Yang, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation & Communication Department, Guan Peijun, Director of the Normal School Education Department, and Wang Xiaowei, Counselor of Education from the Chinese Consulate General in Chicago.

 Tu Xinshi, Head of the Confucius Classroom, gave a report to Vice Minister Chen on the development of the school.  The school’s objectives are  to serve the community, combine culture media with calligraphy teaching and offer college courses as well as community courses.  The school has been exploring a combination of cultural exchanges and education promotion abroad as an effective way to organize international calligraphy exchange and calligraphy teachers training.

After listening to the report, Vice Minister Chen stated that the Confucius Classroom, based on the needs of the local community, had opened Chinese language courses and calligraphy courses, held culture and arts seminars and calligraphy exhibition to serve local communities. The activities, being flexible in forms with wide range in enrollment, helped promote traditional Chinese culture and allowed local people get a better understanding of China. She praised the Confucius Classroom for its combination of calligraphy with community teaching and exhibition.

Afterward, Vice Minister Chen went to visit the Confucius Classroom’s library, cultural exhibition room and calligraphy class, and presented 300 books to the school. During the visit, Vice Minister Chen talked with with the American students and viewed their calligraphy works. Since the visit coincided with the opening ceremony of the Shanghai Expo, Vice Minister Chen gave every students Expo souvenirs and then took photos with the teachers and students.

In the classroom, 5 student representatives created calligraphy works on the spot and presented them to Vice Minister Chen. Among them, one piece reading “No Child Left Behind” was created by Allison. She gave it to Vice Minister Chen and said excited, “Today is an unforgettable day for me. ”

Following the visit, Vice Minister Chen attended the annual meeting of American Educational Research Association held at the Denver Convention Center and delivered a keynote speech entitled “Preparing for the Future: Changes and Innovations of Basic Education in China”.