Recording 5:

East Asian Educators Look to US Schools for Ideas

This is the VOA Special English Education Report. High school students in Asia often do better than American students on international math and science tests. Experts say part of this is because schools in countries like China and South Korea do better at preparing students to take tests. Yet some of these same countries want to learn what makes American students good at creativity and critical thinking. Foreign educators often visit Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia, near Washington. This past summer, seventy-five school principals visited from China. Evan Glazer, the principal of Thomas Jefferson, says the school combines science and math with literature and other liberal arts. EVAN GLAZER: Curriculum, when its seen within one particular context, youre really just developing knowledge and skills. But if you want to look at the complexity of real problems and original solutions, it requires people to come at them from different angles. And so we foster a lot of team teaching, with pairing up teachers from different disciplines so that, when theyre offering challenges to students, that they have a variety of perspectives as they approach problems. The admissions process is intensely competitive. Thomas Jefferson is part of the Fairfax County Public Schools but serves a wider area. The number of students from families of Asian ethnicity at the school reached fifty percent this past year. The program was created in partnership with local businesses in nineteen eighty-five. The goal was to improve education in science, math and technology. Some students do university-level research in fields such as microelectronics, neuroscience and biotechnology. Students can also learn from working with professionals, says Mr. Glazer. EVAN GLAZER: We certainly cultivate a culture of inquiry and research so that students can do original work. Thats part of our mindset. But I think, as Americans, I think we pride ourselves in our ability to constantly generate new ideas for the benefit of humanity. In East Asia, the focus of high school is often to prepare students for college entrance exams. But Mr. Glazer says in recent years China has been developing experimental schools. These offer more student-centered learning the way many top American schools do. EVAN GLAZER: And I think thats part of the American mindset that weve had pride in as a country for so many years -- of the idea that everyone can bring original ideas. And I think East Asia senses that, and they certainly see the benefit to our innovation as a country.

He points out that as East Asian countries consider greater freedom for their schools, American education is headed in the opposite direction. Most states have recently approved common standards in math and reading. EVAN GLAZER: In China and in Korea there is a strong interest in trying to get students to be more creative. And in America there is a strong interest in standardization. And, you know, the reality is we dont operate in one world or the other. Its trying to find that right balance." And thats the VOA Special English Education Report. I'm Christopher Cruise. Recording 6:

Poor Suffer as Food Prices Likely to Stay High

This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report. There are growing concerns about food insecurity in the developing world. Rising food prices, weather emergencies and political problems are deepening the struggle of families in many countries. Three United Nations agencies published a report last week before Sunday's observance of World Food Day. This years "State of Food Insecurity in the World" report says high prices are likely to continue. Gregory Barrow is with the World Food Program in Rome. GREGORY BARROW: "If you look at the places where World Food Program works particularly in developing countries, you see populations of people who might be spending sixty, seventy, eighty percent of their salaries on purchasing food for their families." The report says even short-term price increases can have a long-term effect. Reducing nutritious food early in a childs life can affect mental and physical development and limit future earnings. East Africa is suffering its worst drought in years. In Kenya, at least three and a half million people are going hungry, mostly in the north. Yet food is going to waste in central Kenya. Now, farmers there want the government to buy their food and get it to those in need. Farmers say bad roads and a lack of transportation make it difficult for them to get their produce to market. Storage is another problem. And they complain about a big drop in food prices. Nahashon Gitau farms almost three hectares about a ninety-minute drive from Nairobi. He says he regrets that he wastes at least twenty-five percent of his harvest while other Kenyans are hungry. NAHASHON GITAU: "It is for the government to make some arrangements -- perhaps even give transport. Then, they can buy it at a good price, then give it to those people instead of asking for food from overseas, which is very bad. When we are throwing away food, they are asking for food from overseas."

Economists say the imports reduce local food prices, decrease productivity and increase dependency among the people. Mr. Gitau says if he could receive higher prices for his crops, he could feed more Kenyans. NAHASHON GITAU: "From my farm, I would perhaps sell every season, say, one hundred bags of potatoes, and perhaps ten thousand heads of cabbages, say, three times in a year. I can manage that product. And I have got some other farmers who can do even better than me." Kinangop District officer Peninnih Dzombo explained why local governments have not taken action. PENINNIH DZOMBO: "In our department, in most cases we usually work through reports and all that. So it depends on who will read the report. But we have not made the effort to have it like a priority that we want A, B, C, D addressed. Ms. Dzombo says her office does not get enough money from the central government to improve roads and take other steps to help farmers reach markets. And thats the VOA Special English Agriculture Report. I'm Bob Doughty.