News Herald from Port Clinton, Ohio • 9

Thursday, Dec. 6, 1979, News Herald 9 Hmaii9 holiday- Henn finds similarities, differences in U.S. and Soviet education I I I I -J I I I rrrr-jM- I i i Jrr I --M the persons on the tour with him even was allowed to rent a car and drive around, which wouldn't have been permitted a few years ago. He visited one teacher institute where the students and teachers spent -considerable time talking to him and asking him questions about education in this country. He also discovered Americans are much more worried about the Russians than they are about us.

"The two countries they are concerned about and really hate are China and Germany," he said. "They see China as a threat because it is pure Communism while Russia has a more liberalized Communism," he explained. "You can moonlight in Russia, and you can't in China. If you're a teacher, you can tutor someone and make some additional money. You are allowed to make a profit off your own labors, but not off someone else's," he said.

The Russians fear Germany because of that country's effects on Russia during previous wars. Henn said the Russians truly hate the Germans. "Everyone works for the government in Russia," Henn said. "Few Russians are allowed to own property, but some can own their homes. There is no guarantee that the home wont revert to the government when they die." He said even the farms are government owned, and most of the workers are bused from the villages to the farms to do the work.

"Few people actually live in the country." He also said that most Russians live in high-rise apartments and several apartments will share one bathroom. "Body odor is terrible with that many people sharing a bathroom." He also said that rent usually ranged from per month. He explained that while Russia has an atheistic society and the schools teach that there is no God, religion isn't forbidden anymore, and the churches usually are very crowded. Henn added that many of the churches now are museums, but there are churches available to those who wish to go. All persons must be married in a civil ceremony, but they are allowed to be married in a church ceremony if they wish, and Henn said approximately 15 percent have religious marriage ceremonies.

One of the biggest problems in the USSR is alcoholism, according to Henn, but he added literally moved together to provide enough students for a school. Also, girls may take what are called "leaver" exams and quit school early, Henn said, adding that only about one-third of the women complete the full 10 years. Education in Russia is a federal function under the Ministry of Education. That department sets up the curriculum for the entire nation, according to Henn. Children start school when they are seven years old and continue until they are 17.

Instead of grades, each year is called a form. Beginning in the eighth form, students may go into specialized courses such as languages, science, fine arts, sports, vocational, teaching or continue in the general education program. Those with a particular aptitude or ability in a certain area are encouraged to go into a specialized program in that area and often are even paid to do so. Many of the teachers in the school system have only taken the specialized courses in education, but the government now is starting to require that all new teachers have bachelor's degrees, he added. A smaller percentage of Russian students go on to higher education than American students, Henn said, but those that do are often paid to go to school, and the amount they are paid in some cases depends on their grades.

He said there is a big difference between attending a university and an institute. Those who graduate from universities have the most prestige and can command the highest wages. They are the researchers, scientists, theorists and government people. The institutes turn out the doctors, engineers, lawyers and teachers. These people could make even less than a brick layer, Henn said.

He added that most brick layers in Russia are women and that there is an immense amount of building going on, but the actual construction is very poor. The educational plan in Russia calls for four years of kindergarten and three of nursery school. These are provided in some of the larger cities, but at this time, Henn said, most are sponsored by a factory group and only a few are government operated. Eventually, the government hopes to operate these schools for all children. Henn said the parents of each student are given weekly By CLAUDINE KRISS County Editor Some people just can't seem to get away from their jobs, even when they're on vacation.

One local person who falls into this category is Dr. Dwight Henn, superintendent of Port Clinton City Schools. He returned this past weekend from a two-week "busman's holiday" touring educational facilities in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, better known as Russia. The trip provided him with an insight not only into the educational program in Russia but into the government and the lives of the people. He came back with pads and pads of notes, a respect for much of the work Russia has done on its educational system and a reinforcement of the idea that the United States is still the best country in which to live.

Henn said the educational system in Russia is patterned after the American system, but there are many differences and many problems. "They stress that education is free to everyone," he said, "even the universities." And in many instances, he added, they even pay the students to attend school, especially the universities and institutes. "Russia chose to pattern its educational system after that of the United States because our system comes closer to offering an education to everyone than any other, and that is what Russia is striving for," he explained. But while the United States has been developing its system for more than a century, Russia has had only about 50 years in which to develop its system. Prior to that, the country was either involved in serious wars or a culture where only the most important persons had an opportunity for education.

In 1927, the Soviet government began requiring three years of education for all children, and in 1939, compulsory education was increased to seven years. Just this year, it was increased to 10 years. But while, idealistically, 10 years of education is required for all children in Russia, it hasn't yet become the practice, according to Henn. "In the rural areas, there just aren't enough teachers or sometimes even students available to make the required 10 years practical," he explained. He added that while in the United States, small school districts often combine to provide a better school system, in at least one instance he heard, three small villages were Wheat and chaff- SOUVENIRS FROM RUSSIA Dr.

Dwight Henn is shown with a Russian primer, lamb's wool hat and some of the many buttons he brought back from Russia. reports on their child's academic progress and also his behavior so they know exactly how their child is doing in school. He also said the schools are strictly academic. "What we would cali our co-curricular activities sports, clubs, are provided outside the school," he explained. He said the administrative set-up of the schools also is different from ours.

"The principal is the top local school official. There are no superintendents and no boards of education," he explained. "The principal reports directly to the Ministry of Education." Principals are political appointments, Henn noted, although they must have some teaching experience. The country just now is beginning to require special certification for principals, something this country has been doing for many years. The buttons on his coat were presented by some of the students he met.

He said the Russian language is a phonetic language with each letter having only one sound. Ke also noted that IQ tests are illegal in Russia and that no student is allowed to fail. A teacher will do whatever is necessary to help a student complete the work required in his class. Another rather unique item about the schools that Henn discovered was that the first two years are taught in the native language of the area. There are 56 different languages in Russia.

Beginning in the third form, students are taught in Russian in most schools, although some areas continue to use the native language to some extent. And in the fifth fcrm, students begin studying a foreign language, either English, Spanish, French or German. Henn said he found the country and the people much more open than they were five or ten years ago. He had an opportunity to talk openly with many of pie people and one of that drugs are not a big problem there. "Their customs officials are so strict, it is hard to smuggle drugs in," he explained.

"Their customs officials go through everything minutely." Henn said most of the food was very good, and there was an overabundance, at least for the group he was with. "I never saw a salad while we were there," he added, "and I never saw so many different ways to fix cabbage." While in Russia, Henn and the group he was with visited the Moscow Circus, the Bolshoi Ballet and several other cultural events. "I know most of these things were sold out way in advance, but if we decided we wanted to attend one of them, within hours we would have tickets and they would be for good seats. We never learned how they got the tickets for us, but I think they must have just told some party members they had to give up their seats for us," he said. He said probably the most disappointing event he attended was the Bolshoi Ballet.

"Now I know why they are always defecting. Those are some of the greatest artists in the world, and they are forced to perform in shows that are pure propaganda for the state." He said the performance he saw at the ballet was a tribute to Lenin, and that it was "really terrible." Henn also said one of the biggest worries in Russia is that the people aren't reproducing. "But I found out why. They don't know what a double bed is. We stayed in the nicest hotels in the country, and not once did we have a room with a double bed.

They had only single beds and they weren't much wider than a cot. And in all but one, they were bolted to the floor." Henn hasn't had a real vacation from Port Clinton City Schools in about three years. So when he finally did get a chance to take a vacation, one that he canceled several times until he was virtually ordered by the president of the board of education to take it, he spent the time learning about other schools and educational facilities. His trip to Russia may have been a busman's holiday, but Henn doesn't regret a minute of it. He was impressed by the strides made in education by the Russians, but he still feels the United States has the best educational system in the world, despite its many problems.

There are similarities in both systems and good and bad in both systems, but Henn still feels OURS IS THE BEST. Herald page Merckens completes training Russell Neil Merckens Jr. of 206 W. Main Marblehead, was one of 28 state park ranger cadets who graduated recently from an extensive law enforcement training course conducted by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). The cadets completed 10 weeks of in-depth study at Robert S.

Beightler Armory in Worthington, state headquarters for the Ohio Adjutant General's department. Merckens received instruction in search and seizure, police ethics, report writing, laws of arrest, traffic control, first aid, the handling of firearms and cardiovascular pulmonary resuscitation. Training included 280 hours, on Ohio law and law enforcement and 88 hours on regulations governing the use of Ohio's state parks. Donald Olson, chief of the Division of Parks and Recreation, addressed the graduates in a ceremony held at the Ohio Historical Center in Columbus. Merckens will serve as a park ranger at East Harbor State Park, Danbury Township.

4 Pearl Harbor triggered News Area our entrance into war tig By ARCHIE KING This week is the anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in 1941. That event triggered our entrance into World War II. That date seems very remote to some people. Someone said our country experiences a near major war each generation. Perhaps there is a reason.

After having visited Japan, one wonders how a nation could make such a remarkable comeback after a thorough defeat. Interesting note: Magazines that enjoy a nationwide circulation publish some issues for a definite locality such as Chicago or Atlanta, and the advertisements in these issues are from firms in that region. The current issue of Newsweek that arrived by mail at our house is printed for the Toledo, Ohio, area, and contains ads from Toledo firms. Check your copy to confirm this fact. There are many advantages of living in a small city.

When you become disgusted with our community think of the disadvantages of living in a crowded city, and the many problems you must face. The list of foods that will cause cancer is discouraging. Sometimes I wonder what foods are safe. If someone would publish a list of safe foods it would make our outlook on life much pleasanter. From here to Timbuktu is a common phrase, but it is a real place.

Timbuktu is a city of 7,000 people on the Niger River in West Africa. Tourists are beginning to discover it. They enjoy sending postcards from there to their friends with this message, "Here I am in Timbuktu." Keep the bird feeder filled If you expect the birds to stay in your yard this winter. Bird watchers report that there are 230 different species of birds in our county. How many can you identify? Do you want to get away from television, commercials and highway traffic, but enjoy a delightful climate? Then move to Gambia.

This is Britain's oldest and smallest colonial possession in Africa. The country averages only 20 miles wide and is 200 miles long. There are no regular movie houses, no daily newspaper or radio station, and only 70 miles of paved roadway. This is one of the few places that has not yet been spoiled by jet planes and tourists. The city of Nachitoches, has solved the problem of putting up Christmas decorations each year.

They leave them up the year round and merely remove the bulbs when the holidays are over. These decorations are mounted on a metal framework across the river from the business district. The framework is almost invisible when the bulbs are removed. The population of Perry, Maine, is less than 500 people, but it has one exclusive geographic feature. It is exactly halfway between the south pole and the equator.

Every reader knows that the Eifel Tower in Paris is the world's tallest monument. Now name the highest monuments in the United States. For many years the Washington Monument in our national capital was believed to be the highest and the Perry Memorial at Putin-Bay, Ohio was next, but Texas has outdone us. The San Jacinto Monument near Houston is 570 feet high, while the Perry Memorial is 355 feet high. If you doubt that Jonah was really swallowed by a whale, records show that seaman James Bartley of the British whaling ship "Star of the East" was swallowed by a sperm whale near the Falkland Islands in February 1891 and rescued the next day when the whale was captured and processed for the oil and other products.

When you discover that you can't change the world, relax, perhaps you are the one at fault. People don't always do things or say things the way you desire. i.