Day 3 - Moscow in the Snow - April Fools Day (Yes, Russia celebrates this day today, too.)
I awoke today to a very snowy Moscow. Snow in Moscow means crazy traffic jams and tons of fun. We all headed by way of van to a school visit. What should have taken a few minutes, took over an hour as the streets were packed with cars going every which way and not abiding by cautionary speeds in the snow. It was a fun ride to say the least. At one point, our bus driver just got out of the car and stood in the road. I wasn't sure if he needed to smoke (like so many other Russians do) or was frustrated. I guess it was the latter.
We finally made it to the school and were greeted by the friendliest, most accommodating people I have ever met. We were at a Slavic Anglo American, private school (all grades K-11), located in the southwest portion of Moscow, the most affluent part of the city. Here, we participated in a round table discussion with one of the seven heads of education for the city of Moscow, the Moscow City Duma. We also met and heard from the school's headmaster and principal, along with several teachers and administrators from nearby schools. Lastly, we heard from four students of the school. They spoke to us about how appreciative they are of their teachers and the importance of extracurricular activities such as their business competition project, the Shakespeare Festival they attended in San Diego, their science competition in San Jose, California, and other international trips they have been on.
I was very interested in the educational system in Russia, but more interested in seeing the students in the classroom. On our tour I noticed several differences in the Russian students. They all seemed polite, well behaved, and respectful to the teacher and administrator. No matter what room we entered, all students stood for the adults entering the room. They seemed to sit quietly and listened intently to their instructor, as the instructor served as the center of knowledge for the class. They were in small discussions, but not one was speaking over another and all allowed each other time to voice their opinion and answer our questions. I'm interested in comparing this affluent private school to that of a public institution.
This school was simply awesome! They value global education as well as understand the need for a well-rounded student. They talked about their charity work and how they just hosted a special concert night for students with down-syndrome. That seems very unlike other Russian schools I have heard about. They also value trips abroad, compensate their teachers well, and provide the teachers with their requested resources.
The school's motto was: I'm young, I'm happy, special and free. School "Marina" that is for me. It's love that binds us together. Today, tomorrow, and forever. Having been a visitor, I could tell they truly uphold this motto and care about their students. They did mention the small class size and being a family school with several siblings all under the one roof. I knew if I was a Russian student, this is where I would want to go to school. While most private schools are not religious in nature, it still felt like a warm, friendly place to be, from the cooks making fresh pastries and coffees to the administrative staff taking your coat and showing you around. It was such a great experience!
I awoke today to a very snowy Moscow. Snow in Moscow means crazy traffic jams and tons of fun. We all headed by way of van to a school visit. What should have taken a few minutes, took over an hour as the streets were packed with cars going every which way and not abiding by cautionary speeds in the snow. It was a fun ride to say the least. At one point, our bus driver just got out of the car and stood in the road. I wasn't sure if he needed to smoke (like so many other Russians do) or was frustrated. I guess it was the latter.
We finally made it to the school and were greeted by the friendliest, most accommodating people I have ever met. We were at a Slavic Anglo American, private school (all grades K-11), located in the southwest portion of Moscow, the most affluent part of the city. Here, we participated in a round table discussion with one of the seven heads of education for the city of Moscow, the Moscow City Duma. We also met and heard from the school's headmaster and principal, along with several teachers and administrators from nearby schools. Lastly, we heard from four students of the school. They spoke to us about how appreciative they are of their teachers and the importance of extracurricular activities such as their business competition project, the Shakespeare Festival they attended in San Diego, their science competition in San Jose, California, and other international trips they have been on.
I was very interested in the educational system in Russia, but more interested in seeing the students in the classroom. On our tour I noticed several differences in the Russian students. They all seemed polite, well behaved, and respectful to the teacher and administrator. No matter what room we entered, all students stood for the adults entering the room. They seemed to sit quietly and listened intently to their instructor, as the instructor served as the center of knowledge for the class. They were in small discussions, but not one was speaking over another and all allowed each other time to voice their opinion and answer our questions. I'm interested in comparing this affluent private school to that of a public institution.
This school was simply awesome! They value global education as well as understand the need for a well-rounded student. They talked about their charity work and how they just hosted a special concert night for students with down-syndrome. That seems very unlike other Russian schools I have heard about. They also value trips abroad, compensate their teachers well, and provide the teachers with their requested resources.
The school's motto was: I'm young, I'm happy, special and free. School "Marina" that is for me. It's love that binds us together. Today, tomorrow, and forever. Having been a visitor, I could tell they truly uphold this motto and care about their students. They did mention the small class size and being a family school with several siblings all under the one roof. I knew if I was a Russian student, this is where I would want to go to school. While most private schools are not religious in nature, it still felt like a warm, friendly place to be, from the cooks making fresh pastries and coffees to the administrative staff taking your coat and showing you around. It was such a great experience!