Release Date: 2/26/2008

Contact: Charles Herndon, 410.887.6111 Kelly Smith, 410.887.7633

What: As part of a Chinese cultural and academic exchange with Baltimore County Public Schools, exchange students from the First Railway School in Xi'an, China, will visit Lutherville Laboratory elementary school to teach students aspects of Chinese culture, such as making paper dragons and the use of chopsticks. The visit helps to extend the value of the BCPS Chinese exchange program to Lutherville Lab and the community; 12 First Railway students and two of their teachers are visiting Dulaney High School and attending classes for the next seven weeks.

When: Wednesday, February 27, 2008, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Where: Lutherville Laboratory Elementary School
1700 N. York Road, Lutherville 21093.

Background:
The Lutherville Lab visit is one more way that BCPS students can be exposed to culture and customs of students from China, as well as an opportunity for the exchange students to visit an American elementary school.

In August 2006, Dulaney became the first school in Baltimore County to offer Mandarin Chinese language instruction, through a partnership with Towson University's Chinese education program. Several of the Dulaney students studying Chinese this year are participating in the school's exchange program with China later this summer.

The partnership is designed for Baltimore County school students and staff to: value, understand, and respect cultural differences and similarities between the United States and China; develop effective communication skills that will enable BCPS students to interact with people from other cultures; and acquire a greater understanding of the knowledge and skills necessary to compete in today's rapidly changing world economy.

First Railway School in China features a 70-year history, two campuses, and more than 7,000 students, all of whom must take exams and apply to be accepted into the school. Once supported by a railroad company, the school is now funded in part by the government and in part through tuition paid by parents.

While in Maryland, the Chinese students gain a better understanding of how American education works, how teachers and students interact, and how different teaching methods affect student achievement. Each of the visiting Chinese students stays with a different family in the Dulaney High community. In addition to participating in classes, school activities, and sightseeing, the students will also travel throughout the region. The students also attend the Chinese class at Dulaney to help teach the Dulaney students and to share their knowledge of Chinese life and culture.

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