Nearly 100 educators gave up a Saturday to participate in a riveting day-long workshop on modern China organized by the Council. Participants arrived from as far away as San Antonio and Dallas to learn about the enormous changes taking place in China today.


Carl Minzer, law professor at Washington University in St. Louis, discussed the changing face of Chinese domestic politics and human rights. Teachers gained new appreciation of the complex strategic and foreign policy issues facing China from Rodger Baker, senior analyst for STRATFOR. Many of the charts, graphs, and maps introduced were eye-opening, causing one teacher to excitedly remark that they “give me a new direction to address my students.”

Teachers were treated to stunning images of Tibet by world-renowned photographer, Bob Gomel, formerly of Life Magazine as well as an Asian-inspired lunch. Hands-on classroom activities, suggested reading lists, and ideas for how to use current documentaries on China concluded the day. Many educators agreed that the resource binder was the “best collection of material” they have ever received at a training.

One teacher said his knowledge of China was strong up to 1989, but now he feels that his knowledge is more up to date because of the exceptional speakers provided by the Council. Teachers return to their classrooms with fresh ideas, substantive lesson plans and a renewed enthusiasm for teaching about China.

This full day workshop was the second in a four-part workshop series called “Portrait of the World,” generously sponsored by Chevron.

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Portrait of Mexico
August 29, 2009

The series for educators was launched on August 29 with the Portrait of Mexico. Speakers included John Mason Hart of the University of Houston; Natalie Arsenault of the University of Texas at Austin; and Benigna Leiss, Mexico Country Manager for Chevron. Additionally, Mexican filmmaker Natalia Almada screened her documentary, Al Otro Lado (To the Other Side).

The workshop reached its capacity of 100 teachers. One came from all the way from Chicago but most participants were from Houston-area schools. They discussed best classroom practices with peers and took away a binder and CD full of classroom-ready materials and lesson plans.