XML FeedsCelebrating Chinese Culture
Posted: February 8, 2010 by Cathy Tatom
Northeastern State University’s Broken Arrow Campus is just the second in the Southern United States to offer Confucius Institute classes. The Institute is offered through the Chinese Education Ministry. NSU’s Dean of Liberal Arts compares it to Voice of America. Paul Westbrook says its a way for the Chinese government to share it’s rich history and culture with the world in a non-political way.
Sunday is Chinese New Year. To celebrate it and the classes offered by the Confucius Institute student artists, dancers and musicians from Beijing Normal University will be at NSU-BA to perform traditional and modern songs and dances.
Students interested in college credit can take the entire series of classes. Those who are just interested in learning about various aspects of Chinese culture can attend specific sections without accumulating credit.
PermalinkFree Dental Clinic
Posted: February 5, 2010 by Cathy Tatom
2,000 or more people spent one or two nights lined up in the cold to get dental work at the Tulsa Convention Center today and tomorrow thanks to a massive free dental clinic organized by Oklahoma Mission of Mercy, the Delta Dental Charitable Foundation and Oklahoma Dental Association.
Hundreds of dentists, hygenists and other medical professionals, as well as dental students, are donating their time to do cleaning, fillings, extractions, restorations and root canals.
The event is intended to help those who can’t afford dental work but no proof of eligibility is required. Proceedures are being performed on a first come, first served basis on adults and children.
Organizers tell us next year a similar event will be held in Oklahoma City, and the year after that it will move to McAlester.
Micro Community Award
Posted: February 2, 2010 by Cathy Tatom
Students at Tulsa’s Thoreau Demonstration Academy get real life lessons in business and government by running their own government and businesses. The concept is called a “micro-community.” It gives the 6th, 7th and 8th graders real world experience by requiring each student to have a job either as a business person or by working for the government. They even have their own money called “emeralds.” The micro-community also has its own judicial system that lets students learn real world, grown up consequences by either appearing before the court or acting as judges. Students who appear before the court are given the opportunity to have an attorney and present witnesses and evidence when their cases are heard.
February 25th the school will be honored by the State Bar Association as its School of the Year.
The school was picked because its micro community program it gives students a practical way to learn about citizenship.
Funding Dilemma
Posted: January 29, 2010 by Cathy Tatom
Tourist attractions like the Will Rogers Museum in Claremore depend on state funding to operate. The museum draws thousands of visitors to the state. Tourists visiting the museum also spend lots of money shopping, eating and staying in hotels in the Claremore area.
Because of state funding cuts, the attractions like the Will Rogers Museum have a lot less money to pay their bills. It’s a dilemma that has the attractions wondering how to cope. Do they cut hours? Close some days? If they do, how will it affect the community that depends on the tourists they attract?