Trustee’s Travels Lead To Narrowing Of Gap Between Bitter Nations
By MICHAEL SEBASTIAN, Journal Reporter
ELK GROVE JOURNAL / Thursday, May 13, 2004
THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2004
Armenia and Azerbaijan are at war. The European and Asian nation,
respectively, have battled each other over territorial issues since
the fall of the Soviet Union. Despite the reigning bitterness, an
elected official from Elk Grove helped, ever so slightly, mend the
gap between the nations by working closely with their youth.
In March, Elk Grove Trustee Patton Feichter traveled to the capitol of
Lithuania — Vilnius — as part of a federally funded, international
teacher exchange program titled Civitas. From March 5 to March 14,
Feichter, a trustee for seven years, worked closely with teachers,
government officials, community leaders and youth of Baltic and former
Soviet bloc countries including Lithuania, Russia, Poland, Latvia,
Romania, Slovakia and Bosnia — as well as Armenia and Azerbaijan.
For an entire day, Feichter and other Civitas representatives visited
the Vilnius Pedagogical University, a teacher’s college, to work with
future and current instructors. The group’s main thrust involved
bringing democracy to a classroom of citizens who view this free
world concept with excitement and uncertainty.
Feichter and others worked with teaching students from three nations
that day — Lithuania, Armenia and Azerbaijan. The only common language
the students shared was Russian, a completely foreign language to
Feichter. Yet with a translator Feichter and the Civitas team brought
the Armenians and Azerbaijanis to a shaky state of cohesion, despite
their reluctance, Feichter admitted.
Together, the foreign teachers learned the many ways to engage their
students in community concerns. A primary example involved flushing
out a problem, for instance, drugs or violence in elementary schools,
then researching the issue in search of an answer.
“The teachers would interview public and school officials and members
of the police department about the problem,” explained Feichter. “This
was a huge step because people from these countries never questioned
authority before.”
The day at Vilnius Pedagogical University was a success, Feichter
indicated. “The students worked well together,” he said adding,
“they were all wonderful to us — very thankful.”
Although the experience was a success, the Civitas team’s involvement
with Lithuanian government was not always light and easy. One day,
Feichter attended a session of the Lithuanian Parliament on the
nation’s Independence Day from the Soviet Union, a seemingly joyous
experience. However, once the formal celebration ceased, the political
wrangling began, according to Feichter. As he watched, members of
parliament continued with the impeachment process of their leader.
“I didn’t know the language,” Feichter commented. “But you could
definitely feel the tension in the room.”
The president was impeached after we left the country, Feichter added.
This Elk Grove trustee is no stranger to government or foreign
relations. A former high school government teacher, now comparative
government at North Park University, Feichter has traveled to Bosnia
almost annually since 1996 constantly stressing the importance of
democracy education. It’s an admittedly deep passion, according
to Feichter.
When not exporting democracy or watching anxious impeachment
proceedings, Feichter enjoyed the native life. He ate a traditional
Lithuanian dinner in a castle one evening. The festivities included
a Lithuanian Elvis Presley impersonator, Feichter chuckled.
“We were treated very well,” explained Feichter. “The only negativity
we received concerned Iraq. Many teachers polled me on our country’s
involvement in Iraq.”
The questioning didn’t faze him though. He will certainly return to
Eastern Europe next year to continue democracy education. Until then
however, Feichter plans to soak up some Lithuanian culture with the
nation’s cuisine. Chicago holds the largest Lithuanian population
outside Lithuania, which is a bonus for Feichter who has fallen in
love with one of their national delicacies — potato pancakes.
“They’ve got some of the best in the world,” he noted.
THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2004
Trustee’s Travels Lead To Narrowing Of Gap Between Bitter Nations By
MICHAEL SEBASTIAN Journal Reporter
Armenia and Azerbaijan are at war. The European and Asian nation,
respectively, have battled each other over territorial issues since
the fall of the Soviet Union. Despite the reigning bitterness, an
elected official from Elk Grove helped, ever so slightly, mend the
gap between the nations by working closely with their youth.
In March, Elk Grove Trustee Patton Feichter traveled to the capitol of
Lithuania — Vilnius — as part of a federally funded, international
teacher exchange program titled Civitas. From March 5 to March 14,
Feichter, a trustee for seven years, worked closely with teachers,
government officials, community leaders and youth of Baltic and former
Soviet bloc countries including Lithuania, Russia, Poland, Latvia,
Romania, Slovakia and Bosnia — as well as Armenia and Azerbaijan.
For an entire day, Feichter and other Civitas representatives visited
the Vilnius Pedagogical University, a teacher’s college, to work with
future and current instructors. The group’s main thrust involved
bringing democracy to a classroom of citizens who view this free
world concept with excitement and uncertainty.
Feichter and others worked with teaching students from three nations
that day — Lithuania, Armenia and Azerbaijan. The only common language
the students shared was Russian, a completely foreign language to
Feichter. Yet with a translator Feichter and the Civitas team brought
the Armenians and Azerbaijanis to a shaky state of cohesion, despite
their reluctance, Feichter admitted.
Together, the foreign teachers learned the many ways to engage their
students in community concerns. A primary example involved flushing
out a problem, for instance, drugs or violence in elementary schools,
then researching the issue in search of an answer.
“The teachers would interview public and school officials and members
of the police department about the problem,” explained Feichter. “This
was a huge step because people from these countries never questioned
authority before.”
The day at Vilnius Pedagogical University was a success, Feichter
indicated. “The students worked well together,” he said adding,
“they were all wonderful to us — very thankful.”
Although the experience was a success, the Civitas team’s involvement
with Lithuanian government was not always light and easy. One day,
Feichter attended a session of the Lithuanian Parliament on the
nation’s Independence Day from the Soviet Union, a seemingly joyous
experience. However, once the formal celebration ceased, the political
wrangling began, according to Feichter. As he watched, members of
parliament continued with the impeachment process of their leader.
“I didn’t know the language,” Feichter commented. “But you could
definitely feel the tension in the room.”
The president was impeached after we left the country, Feichter added.
This Elk Grove trustee is no stranger to government or foreign
relations. A former high school government teacher, now comparative
government at North Park University, Feichter has traveled to Bosnia
almost annually since 1996 constantly stressing the importance of
democracy education. It’s an admittedly deep passion, according
to Feichter.
When not exporting democracy or watching anxious impeachment
proceedings, Feichter enjoyed the native life. He ate a traditional
Lithuanian dinner in a castle one evening. The festivities included
a Lithuanian Elvis Presley impersonator, Feichter chuckled.
“We were treated very well,” explained Feichter. “The only negativity
we received concerned Iraq. Many teachers polled me on our country’s
involvement in Iraq.”
The questioning didn’t faze him though. He will certainly return to
Eastern Europe next year to continue democracy education. Until then
however, Feichter plans to soak up some Lithuanian culture with the
nation’s cuisine. Chicago holds the largest Lithuanian population
outside Lithuania, which is a bonus for Feichter who has fallen in
love with one of their national delicacies — potato pancakes.
“They’ve got some of the best in the world,” he noted.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
