PULLMAN —Three seminars on hot educational topics will highlight a visit by Japanese educators to the WSU campus Oct. 12-16.
Their visit marks the 20th year of a dynamic partnership between the WSU College of Education and Japan’s Nishinomiya School District.
“Each year, we recommend a Washington educator to teach English in Nishinomiya, and we host a Japanese teacher for 10 weeks of intensive English studies at WSU,” said Judy Nichols Mitchell. “In alternating years, delegations from the college and from Nishinomiya exchange visits. We greatly value the exchange of educational ideas and sharing of instructional methods between cultures.”
The public is invited to the seminars, which will take place in Education Addition room 212. The topics and times are:
• “Helicopter Parents,” presented by Clinical Professor Steve Hirsch, 10:30 a.m.-noon, Monday, Oct. 13;
• “Working with Diverse Learners,” presented by Susanna Reyes, Pullman School District Assistant Superintendent and Debra McNeil, Pullman School District Teacher 1:30-3 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13;
• “Cyber-bullying,” presented by Assistant Professors Hal Jackson and Sarah French, 8-9:30 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 16.
A reception to officially welcome the Japanese guests, also open to the public, will be held from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 13 in Cleveland Hall 3rd floor foyer. A closing ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 16 in Cleveland Hall 3rd floor foyer.
The delegation will consist of Hisaaki Shirado, deputy superintendent for Nishinomiya Board of Education; Takashige Shimizu, section chief of Comprehensive Education Center; Yuko Maeda, supervisor and English teacher; and junior high English teachers Masahiro Okamoto and Chifumi Nishijima. Their time in Pullman will include visits to public schools. On Friday, they will travel to Spokane, which is a sister city to Nishinomiya.
