HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 97-4620, by Representative Dunshee

       WHEREAS, The House of Representatives recognizes excellence in the field of education and the fostering of awareness of various cultural backgrounds and nationalities; and

       WHEREAS, The Snohomish School District began an exchange program with Chengdu Middle School Four in China in 1985, and founded a sister-school relationship with the school in 1986.  The sister-school relationship is a permanent one that includes teacher and student exchanges; and

       WHEREAS, Nine Snohomish teachers from elementary, junior high, and high school levels have taught English in China, and junior high and high school teachers from China have come to Snohomish to teach Chinese language and Chinese culture; and

       WHEREAS, The Chinese language program involves seventy to eighty students a year; overall more than two hundred Snohomish students have studied Chinese.  Some of the students have gone on to study oriental languages in community colleges and universities in the Puget Sound area; and

       WHEREAS, The Chinese exchange teacher team-teaches a Chinese culture class that meets social studies elective requirements for graduation at Snohomish High School.  In one semester, the course covers Chinese history, philosophy, art, government, geography, customs, culture, and family and daily life; and

       WHEREAS, The Chinese culture class is a doubly powerful learning experience because it not only allows American students to learn about Chinese culture from a Chinese native, but also to learn how to get along and communicate with a person from a foreign land; and

       WHEREAS, During the twelve years of the exchange program, the exchange teachers have reached more than six thousand elementary and junior high school students in the Snohomish District; and

       WHEREAS, During the course of the exchange program, Snohomish has sent fifteen students in five groups of three to live and study for five weeks at Middle School Four in Chengdu, China; and

       WHEREAS, The Snohomish students who study in China return to America saying the experience changed their lives by making them more aware of and interested in the outside world, more sympathetic to people of other cultural backgrounds, and more appreciative of their own country.  The exchange students make special presentations to their classes and the Snohomish student body upon their return; and

       WHEREAS, Snohomish prides itself on its community commitment and involvement in school projects, and the exchange program is no exception.  Each year, one or two families become host families for the exchange teacher; they welcome their visitor into their lives, and into their friendships and activities in the community as well; and

       WHEREAS, The community's biggest project with the exchange program was a trip made to China in the spring of 1988 that included one hundred twenty students and sixty adults from Snohomish;

       NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize and honor the Snohomish School District China Exchange Program; and

       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to the Snohomish School District China Exchange Program.

              I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of

              Resolution 4620 adopted by the House of Representatives

                        Rules Committee February 12, 1997.

                         ________________________________

                          Timothy A. Martin, Chief Clerk