A group of Russian educators will get a firsthand look at North Dakota schools next week.
The 10-person contingent of college deans, university officials and two facilitators will touch down about 6 p.m. today at Fargo's Hector International Airport.
Monday through Friday, they'll take tours and visit with officials at more than a dozen schools.
Their stops will include West Fargo public schools, Shanley High School in Fargo, North Dakota State University, Concordia College, Valley City (N.D.) State University, Northwest Technical College in Moorhead, and Aakers Business College in Fargo.
Thursday, the group will meet with state Superintendent of Schools Wayne Sanstead and spend part of the afternoon at the North Dakota Education Association convention in Bismarck.
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The trip was arranged by the Washington, D.C.-based National Peace Foundation, which also brought four Russian judges to Fargo in September.
"It's to promote different forms of democracy, free market, cultural understanding -- to show their professionals how we do things," said Kathie Lansing, the foundation's deputy director.
Marina Koval, a Moscow native who consults for the NPF on Russian issues, said the economic collapse in her homeland has forced many teachers and students to leave their schools for other jobs.
"It's not popular now to be in school," she said. "But on the other side, so many interesting innovations are coming because it's freedom of thinking, and people are opening their own private schools and they implement their own knowledge.
"And some of them coming (to Fargo), probably they'll go back with good ideas for the Russian system," Koval said.
Russian students spend 11 years in primary and secondary schools before attending college, although the nation is considering adopting U.S. standards, Koval said.
The Russian tourists will stay at host homes in Fargo and Moorhead.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Mike Nowatzki at (701) 241-5528
