CONFUCIUS: A great opportunity

Last Sunday, the Coeur d’Alene Press’ editorial regarding the Confucius Institute was appropriately supportive. The Confucious Institute editorial did attract a couple of online reader comments that endeavored to be humorous regarding a stereotype of English speaking Chinese people. These writers may be unaware that there are more people in China that speak English than there are Americans who speak English.

China is one of Idaho’s largest trading partners. My work and travel in China in the early 2000s opened my eyes to the opportunity (and economic challenge) that China represents. After high school, I helped my son travel to Beijing to attend a university Mandarin language immersion program. That experience added a fresh impetus to his career goals.

If the Confucius Institute can help more Idaho students find expanded opportunity in careers and business, that alone will prove the value of this new Confucius Institute connection. Through my field of career and technical education, I am aware of dramatic growth in China’s vocational education and training (VET) schools and colleges. I see opportunity to explore connections with VET educators in China, and I hope the Confucius Institute might assist in that effort.

ROBERT KETCHUM, Ph.D.

Coeur d’Alene