Omaha World-Herald (Nebraska)
November 6, 2004, Saturday
Educators here to learn, teach
by Emily Gersema
LINCOLN — A group of Eurasian educators is here for a month to learn
about civics education, but they’re teaching Nebraska students,
professors and administrators a lesson about the freedoms that many
Americans take for granted.
“I think it probably improves our outlook on the world,” said Larry
Dlugosh, professor and chairman of educational administration at the
University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
The group of 21 educators from the former Soviet countries of
Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan are visiting schools in Nebraska,
including some in Omaha and Lincoln, to study how Americans teach
children about civic rights and responsibilities.
The UNL program is funded by an $ 83,450 grant from the U.S.
Department of State. The countries have been getting support from the
United States to make the transition into independent states since
the Soviet Union was dissolved in 1991.
The foreign educators’ situation is especially unique because Armenia
and Azerbaijan have been in conflict for nearly two decades. Although
the countries declared a cease-fire in 1994, their relationship
remains tense.
But the educators said their countries have worked side by side for
several years to improve education for children in their nations.
“There have been conferences in Georgia,” said Tatev Margaryan, who
works for an educational policy organization in Armenia.
Programs like this “are a rich experience for us,” said Liana
Ayvazyan, a vice principal for an Armenian school.
Already, Rasmiya Badirov said she intends to connect her students in
Azerbaijan with some of the students she’s met in Nebraska.
“We are going to do cross-cultural projects,” Badirov said. “I think
it would be beneficial for our students to learn U.S. culture.”
Joe McNulty, a UNL professor of education administration who applied
for the grant project, said some Nebraska educators will visit the
countries in the spring.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress