May 2, 2006 7:07 pm US/Central
Chicago Students Partner With Jordanian School
by Jay Levine
AMMAN, Jordan (CBS) ―
Mayor Daley went back to the classroom Tuesday on his Middle East trip.
A Chicago school will now have a partnership with a school in Amman, Jordan.
CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine is traveling with the mayor and reports on how the arrangement will benefit students in both cities.
The warmth of the Jordanian people has impressed everyone in the Chicago delegation, especially the mayor.
Chants of "Long live Mayor Daley" welcomed the mayor Tuesday morning to a school entering into a partnership with one on Chicago's Southwest Side.
"To expand the education of my children, to reach out beyond borders," said Chicago principal Okab Hassan.
As Okab Hassan toured the Jordanian school with Mayor Daley and chatted with students there Tuesday morning, his own students and teachers were looking forward to the new relationship back in Chicago at Peck Elementary School.
"I think it's fantastic," said Kathie Meyers, an 8th grade teacher at Peck.
"We'll be able to learn their culture, their clothing and also what they learn over there," said eighth grade student Maria Lopez.
As their principals signed the agreement linking the two schools, Mayor Daley emphasized that we had a lot to learn from this school and Jordan's system.
"Just think, we're coming here and America realizes that Jordan has a higher literacy rate than America," Daley said. "You can build all the schools you want, and no one values education. It's not only in the schools, it's in the community at large, it's in the family. And that's what they have here."
But Jordan's education minister emphasized that programs like this one have implications far beyond education.
"[It] can help build bridges of understanding and cooperation and probably help eliminate a lot of stereotyping and misconceptions," said Jordan Education Minister Dr. Khaled Toukan.
And it can help the violence those misconceptions can lead to.
"I'd like all of us to remember the 60 people who lost their lives at this hotel and two others last December," Daley said. "I think it's appropriate that we have a moment of silence for them and their families."
Mayor Daley's address to the American Chamber of Commerce took place at Amman's Grand Hyatt, which has soldiers outside, like all western hotels here. There are concrete barricades to keep car bombs away and metal detectors to keep suicide bombers out.
But there is a determination to get back to business. The luncheon for the mayors was a virtual vote of confidence.
"One criminal act does not deny the rights of all," Daley said.
"These things happen, but they will not disrupt the way of life," Amman's mayor said.
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