Planning a trip abroad?
| Saturday, Feb 18 2006 09:20 PM
Last Updated Saturday, Mar 28 2009 11:01 AM
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Ken Hooper's article concerning his trip last fall to Tajikistan in Central Asia is present as part of the Opinion section's occasional Letters Home feature.
Hooper teaches history and archiving at Bakersfield High School. He was one of 15 teachers nationwide to participate in an exchange program between the United States and Eurasia. The program is operated by the nonprofit American Councils for International Education, which is funded by the federal Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
Established in 1996, the purpose of the program is to improve the quality of education in Eurasia and create links with schools in the United States.
Known for making his classes interesting with hands-on projects, Hooper was named in 2004 California Preserve American History Teacher of the Year. The award highlighted his work on Bakersfield High's Japanese-American Diploma Project and his archiving class. The project granted 36 honorary diplomas to Japanese American students who were sent to World War II internment camps between 1942-45 and could not graduate.
In recognition of his award, Hooper was invited to apply for the Central Asia exchange. He traveled to Tajikistan with a teacher from Michigan. His assignment was to teach American history and culture, and provide educational training to Tajik teachers.
Letters Home features articles from Californianreaders or former Kern County residents who travel or live abroad. They provide insights concerning world events through the perspective of a neighbor.
If you are planning a trip abroad or know someone who is traveling or living abroad, send an e-mail to Dianne Hardisty, editorial page editor, at dhardisty@bakersfield.com.
