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In
1985 a pen pal relationship was began between Roseburg5 s Joseph Lane
Jr. High School 7th graders and first year (7th grade) students in
Shobu. Harold Winfield, 7th grade English/Geography teacher at Joseph
Lane and Isao Hattori, English teacher at Shobu Jr. High exchanged
student names and pen pal relationships developed. Pictures and school
artifacts were exchanged and a "Sister School" program came into being.
On a quiet summer evening in 1986 Harold was sitting on his front deck
dreaming of the next school year. "Wouldn't it be great if our students
could visit their pen pals?" he posed. Thus, Harold wrote to Isao. He
heard no response for several months. Hmmm, perhaps they did not like
the idea? However, in Sept. a letter arrived from Japan saying that
Isao had permission and approval from his principal, school board.
Prefecture and the Ministry of Education for our visit! If the dream
was to become a reality then Harold needed the approval of Roseburg
School District administrators and school board. While many did not
consider the idea of taking Jr. High students to Japan as a real
possibility, approval was granted to allow Harold to pursue the project
as long as there was no cost to the school district. Students and their
parents were contacted, funds raised and after some negotiations a date
was set for our first Roseburg/Shobu student exchange visit, June
7th-18th 1987. Two major goals set the theme, "For Friendship and For
Understanding". "For Understanding" the students were to develop an
understanding and appreciation of the Japanese culture, home, school,
and community. Secondly, "Friendship" between the two schools and the
students was to be encouraged and nurtured. A program logo "FOR
UNDERSTANDING....FOR FRIENDSHIP" was born.
Thirteen Joseph Lane 7th and 8th grade students and Harold and Marliene
Winfield as chaperones completed the first trip. The trip also included
a four day tour of Nara and Kyoto after our home stays in Shobu. It was
quickly determined that the extra tour was not needed to fulfill the
Exchange program goals and was not repeated on subsequent visits.
The following year, Japanese students came to Roseburg. As of 2004, the
student exchange students, including those from Roseburg's other Junior
High, Fremont are still coming and going! Literally hundreds of local
students have visited Shobu and visa versa.
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