What Professionals Say About the Cultural Education Program

Stephen D. Thompson, Managing Editor, Chronicle Guidance Publications

"The idea of integrating a curriculum focusing on respect and cultural understanding with student exchanges is unique and needs to be part of the ongoing curriculum."

Stephen J. Beam, Program Director, C.A.R.E.S., Inc.

"I wholeheartedly support the CEP because it provides a real life opportunity for children in Maine to experience and appreciate the difference in people."

Nancy E. Watson, Director, Mechanics Fall-Poland Adult Education

"Calling on his own tenacity, John has used his experiences to create a vision of respect for cultural differences. CEP offers students the opportunity to learn tolerance and empathy via international and domestic exchanges."

Michael Higgins, Director of Special Projects, Maine Department of Education

"Many of the goals of the Cultural Education Program are closely aligned with standards included in Maine's Learning Results. These goals may be met through a variety of learning experiences, but the intrastate, interstate, and international school exchanges proposed in the Cultural Exchange Program would be particularly powerful strategies for student learning."

David Cadigan, Arts Education Specialist, Maine Department of Education

John McKechnie's proposal to improve multi-cultural leaning in Maine schools is as worthy and as wonderfully unique as is John himself. Multi-culturalism is not a strength in Maine as a whole and it certainly is lacking in many Maine school curricula. Hence the Cultural Education Program is not only worthy of support, it is critical that it is supported."

Barney Berube, Ph.D., ESL/Bilinguist Specialist, Maine Department of Education

"Mr. McKechnie has introduced a range of creative ways for permitting affordable travel for students within the region, the United States, and ultimately abroad to provide them with direct experiences in learning new cultures. His insights into promoting a unique cultural education program extends to globalization of business as well."

Olympia J. Snowe, United States Senator

"I noted that you have received the support of numerous people within the state to implement a threefold exchange program for Maine high school students, including representation of the Maine Department of Education and several colleges and universities in the state. Your goal of enacting a program of inter- and intra-state exchange among young people could enhance relationships between various regions in Maine and New England. John, your effort to develop an innovative program is a testament to your concern for our State's young people and their educational development. Congratulations on your commitment to expanding opportunities for Maine students."

Mark Wallace, International Student Advisor, Thomas College

"The Cultural Education Program has the potential to greatly benefit the citizens of Maine, in that its purpose is to broaden the horizons of Maine students through extensive contact with another culture. the benefits of such a program would be many, particularly with increasing students' appreciation for cultural and life-style differences and enriching their lives."

James W. Carignan, Dean of the College, Bates College

"While it is not a new idea, the focus that you give it, namely, try to get people to understand the world from the perspective of the "other" in order to develop the capacity for empathy, is a worthy and particularly interesting focus. The absence of empathy in our world raises significant and fundamental problems in our culture. You want to do something about it that has the chance of producing some tangible results in the long term."

Burgle J. Howard, Director of Student Activities, Bowdoin College

"While there are a number of foreign study and exchange programs at the college/university level within the state, there are several key elements that allow the Cultural Education Program distinguish itself. These include the fact that the CEP is intended for high school age students and those even younger. This early start would help raise the cultural awareness of students even before they reached a college campus."

Yeager Hudson, Dana Professor of Philosophy, Colby college

"Of course, there are other programs which involve arranging for students to travel and study outside their own local area. But there seem to be several unique features of our program. In the first place, you envision a mechanism whereby such travel and study could be made affordable to students from a wide range of social and economic situations. Your propose to offer study not only in foreign countries as many other programs do, but also opportunities for study in different parts of our own country."

Mark B. Tappan, Ed.D., Assistant Professor and Co-Chair, Colby College

"Particularly important, in my view, is John's emphasis on promoting the development of empathy and respect for others, through a gradual process of encounter with different cultures. We live in a world, sadly, where such empathy and respect is often lacking. Moreover, many have called for a renewed and reinvigorated emphasis on promoting the development of values and character in schools. In short, the Cultural Education Program offers Maine students an opportunity to experience the power of cultural exchange in a way that has heretofore not been possible for most students because of the costs involved."

Nancy J. Schneider, Division of Humanities, University of Maine at Augusta

"As a Maine native and the adoptive parent of a foreign born little girl, I heartily agree with John that our children would greatly benefit from living and learning a different culture; although we here enjoy a great quality of life, as John perceives, we are removed from a culturally diverse environment, a situation that in the coming century of global economy may disadvantage our youth."

Evelyn Stern Silver, Director, Office of Equal Opportunity, University of Maine

"I have read the material which you left with me a few weeks ago. I certainly endorse your proposal for a Cultural Education Program as an excellent way to enhance global understanding and respect for cultural diversity."

Douglas Gelinas, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, University of Maine

"The University of Maine has a strong interest in cultural education: cultural diversity and international perspectives are a component of the University's general education program required of all undergraduates, and our office of International Programs works to encourage international student exchanges. Therefore, the goals you express for the proposed Cultural Education Program we support."

Pamela N. Schutz, Ed.D., Associate Professor of Special Education, University of Maine

"The Cultural Education Program is an excellent program, sorely needed and very pertinent to Maine students. All of us need opportunities to experience life, not just read about it from a book."