This web site was designed to present an ongoing effort by groups of volunteers in Education and Science Society (ESS), Inc (http://www.esscare.org/) to enhance the quality of basic education in Rural China. 

 

 

This picture was taken in July, 2002 in a rural village in Gansu, China.

In addition to raising funds to adopt rural school libraries, ESS's Adopt a Rural School Library Project has co-sponsored 21 summer conferences/workshops in China's 13 provinces/cities since 1993. As stated in ESS web site:

            These conferences provided opportunities for Chinese researchers, administrators, principals and                       
            teachers to exchange views and ideas on educational theories and experiences with the             
            educators from U.S. and other parts of the world, and therefore improve the quality of education in 
            rural schools (retrieved September 26, 2002 from FAQ, http://www.esscare.org)

Improving teaching and learning is an international effort. The annual conference/workshop series provides educators, field practitioners, and researchers a forum to introduce, promote, and evaluate various professional development models, ideas, and strategies through observations, interactions and feedback. An effort was made to systematically study the following topics: 

1. ESS as a Learning Organization: 

No project can sustain without dedication and productive habits of mind among all leaders and volunteers. What types of factors contributed to leaders and volunteers' long term commitment and productivities? How does ESS' projects impact on professional development in China's rural schools?

 

2. Teach to Inspire: Essay contributed by  teachers in rural schools. 

Project on Teach to Inspire is an essay contest sponsored by ESS. The following statements was retrieved from Publication - Teach to Inspire, http://www.esscare.org

The contest aims at recognizing rural teachers and principals for their innovation and outstanding performance in instruction, curriculum development, school management, and advocacy of educational issues in their respective rural schools and communities. The annual contest has been held since 1999. Outstanding essays are published together with selected papers from the annual Summer Institute on Education.

To view the current issue (2001), please click Teacher to Inspire 2001 (PDF)

To view the selected essays in the issue of 2000, please click Teach to Inspire 2000 (PDF)

To view the selected essays in the issue of 1999, please click Teach to Inspire 1999 (PDF)

The PDF requires the Adobe Acrobat Reader, which you can download FREE from the Adobe Website

 

A Recent Visit to an ESS-Supported Rural Elementary School in Gansu, China (July 15, 2002)

This web site was created on 9-27-02 and updated by Ji-Mei Chang, Ph.D. on 10-28-02.