| Immigrant Parents Learn ABC's of American Education
It's that time of year when mothers and fathers engage in the semi-annual ritual of meeting face-to-face with their child's teacher. Parent-teacher conferences are a familiar routine. But for parents who don't speak English, staying on top of a child's education is anything but routine. So, as the number of immigrant families in the United States continues to grow, so does the need for a third participant at those parent-teacher conferences: the interpreter. On a recent afternoon at Whitman Elementary in Spokane, Washington, mother and teacher meet to chat in the first grade classroom. They fold themselves into kid-sized chairs. Teacher Jena Hollenbeck pulls out a progress report for German Tishchenko, 8, and tells his mother, "He is doing a good job at his work habits. In fact, he was very good at listening and following directions." While German understands his teacher, his mother, Oksana, does not, and that's why Vera Puzankova is here: to translate.
Editorial: Tragedy of campus shootings is that signs were there to see
Among the myriad distasteful soundbites that have emerged from Blacksburg, Virginia, since the catastrophic university shootings was that uttered by President Bush at the memorial service the day after a crazed gunman killed 33 people before shooting himself. "Laura and I have come to Blacksburg today with hearts full of sorrow," he intoned. "This is a day of ... sadness for our entire nation." The next day, car bombs and suicide bombers killed nearly 200 people in Baghdad - six for every life that was extinguished in Virginia. Some 140 died in a single explosion, the worst insurgent bomb attack since the US-led invasion more than four years ago promised to deliver peace and security to a country now riven with bloody sectarian strife. The irony of that grisly coincidence would doubtless be lost on Bush.
The Minnesota Shubert Performing Arts and Education Center and ...
Minneapolis, MN, April 12, 2007 --(PR.com)-- The Minnesota Shubert Center and Minnesota Dance Theatre today announced the establishment of an interactive online program, which will allow students, teachers, and audience members to watch, learn and give feedback on the production of Wynn Fricke’s Close to Silence production The interactive program will begin on April 16, continuing for four weeks.During these four engaging weeks the Minnesota Shubert Center’s Follow the Creative Process Program "Universal Language: Cultures Connected through Dance" will allow students of all ages to visit the Minnesota Shubert Center’s Web site to receive daily updates about choreography, inspiration, cast, and design. There will be photo galleries, videos and interviews with dancers, choreographers and production staff for students to view as well.
Immigrants must learn to speak the English language
Long ago immigrants came from many places to pursue a better life. They came from Ireland, France, Italy, England, etc. We had several languages spoken, and while people maintained their traditions and cultural expressions, it became necessary for them to learn English in order to succeed and accomplish their "American Dream." Although immigrants are still coming for the same reasons their European predecessors came, our country has become so accommodating that English is almost no longer required to survive in this "Land of Freedom." Governmental programs are printed in several languages and it is hard to come by an automated telephone system that doesn't say "Para Espaol numero dos." .
A living canvas
Phillips opened the only tattoo shop in Mayes County approximately three months ago. Da Vinci Steel is located in Salina in the old Hill Top Cafe at the intersection of Highway 20 and 82.Phillips named the shop Da Vinci Steel because he studied about Leonardo Da Vinici in art appreciation under Ron Dryden. Phillips said Da Vinci was into drawing and studying human anatomy.Phillips took the name Da Vinci and added steel since that is what he uses to apply tattoo ink.However, Phillips joked a local waitress told him some of the older guys who come into town to drink coffee think his name is Da Vinci."They ask, 'Did you get your tattoo from Mr. Da Vinci'," he laughed.The shop has been completely cleaned up and redone, so much so that no one would ever know a restaurant was housed inside.The walls throughout the entire building are painted black, even the windows on the front.Visitors in the lobby area can watch Phillips in action through a window which overlooks the tattoo area.Phillips said being able to see an artist work is an important part of getting a tattoo.Of course, Phillips said the blinds can be drawn for someone who wants a little privacy.Pictures of his work are available in albums and thousands of samples of clipart are just a click of a mouse away.He takes whatever ideas a clients bring and works with them, sometimes suggesting slight changes to create the perfect design.Phillips began drawing at a young age, which he joked greatly attributed to his C average in school.At the age of 18, he went to Tontitown, Ark., with some friends to get his first tattoo out of a bus.He got a yin-yang, which is covered up today.This sparked his interest in doing tattoo work.Phillips began learning from a friend of the family who did underground tattoo work in Oklahoma.He watched and learned and eventually, figured he could make some money doing tattoos.Being artistic, Phillips tried different forms of art such as glass etching, airbrush and oil painting, but found his niche in tattoo work.Phillips purchased his first tattoo kit and had another tattoo artist do an outline of tribal design on him.
Herren Talks Prefuse, Savath, New LPs, Collaboration
"I play it for people and say, 'What is this shit? How do you interpret it?' And they're like, 'This sounds like some sad-ass soundtrack.' If there's one thing we can count on from Prefuse 73's Scott Herren, (now going by his full name: Guillermo Scott Herren), it's that he always has a ton of collaborations and side projects going almost simultaneously. So far this year, those projects are limited to three: a new Prefuse 73 album, a new Savath & Savalas album, Golden Pollen, scheduled for a June 19 release on Anti-, and a full-length collaboration with Japanese MC Twigy, tentatively due out in May. We caught up with Herren recently to talk about these three projects as well as his relationships with hip hop, his collaborators (including Battles' Tyondai Braxton), and the language barrier.
Program gets students to read
The ability to read well and comprehend the material read is the foundation for higher student performance in all subject areas in school. The problem teachers often see is that many students have difficulty reading and therefore do not enjoy reading. The theory developed by Parsons High School to combat the problem was, if students could learn that reading is an enjoyable experience, they would read more, and therefore would increase their vocabulary and comprehension, aiding them in their studies. Last year, the USD 503 Board of Education approved a reading for credit course that was implemented this school year. "The idea, we believe, is students who read more and write more achieve more," said gifted teacher Lou Martino. "The stumbling block for many kids is the time element." The course provides an elective credit to students who read a minimum of three books every nine weeks, write a two-page college level book report on each book, and go through a one-on-one evaluation with the teacher to discuss the student's report and comprehension of the material read.
Families Host Japanese Students
On Friday, March 23, more than 40 Great Falls families welcomed 45 visiting Japanese students from Great Falls Elementary sister school, the Hiroshima Kake Educational Institution in Fukuyama, Japan. The visiting students spent the weekend getting to know their American counterparts and experiencing American life with an American family.
The weekend began with a welcoming ceremony on Friday afternoon at Great Falls Elementary School, and the festivities included a performance by the Taiko Drum Team, a special presentation by Great Falls Elementary students, and a ceremonial tree planting to commemorate the occasion. Dr. Jack Dale, Division Superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools, also participated in the special program.
After the welcoming ceremony, the visiting students went home with their host families and enjoyed some free time together.
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