By Kathryn Buckstaff
News-Leader
SPARTA - What began two months ago as a social studies lesson has now become an exercise in international diplomacy for 11 fourth-graders and a teacher at Sparta Elementary School.
After an e-mail request from a teacher at an elementary school in Russia, Jean Pacheco's 10- and 11-year-old students have been exchanging messages and pictures with 10 fourth- and fifth-graders in Moscow.
But since Russian leaders have declared their opposition to NATO attacks on Kosovo, the Sparta children have become sensitive to the issues.
Although the students have opted to avoid the subject in their correspondence, Pacheco has discussed the conflict via e-mail with the Russian teacher. Because she has not received a reply to her latest
Kathrin Buckataff / NewLeader
Sparta Elementary School fourth-graders learn that they have a lot in common with their Internet "Key Pals" in Russia under direction of language teacher Jean Pacheco. The class writes to 10 forth- and fifth- gradÅrs in Moscow
"We thought (Russian students would) wear different clothes than us. But they don't They dress like us."
-Ashley Beilyeu
student, Sparta Elementary School
"We told them we thought that was funny that they sent us that song for Woman's Day, and they were offended," Finney said. "They thought that we didn't appreciate it. But if they knew the words to that song, they wouldn't have sent it"
Later, the Sparta students transmitted the lyrics, which they say are a bit racy and don't represent women in a completely positive light.
They have learned that the Russian students speak and write in English and know all about things like Nintendo, rock music and current American movies.
"In one picture, we saw that they drink Sprite," Bilyeu said.
Even Pacheco has hadsome suprises:
"I always thought
Pacheco plans to continue the dialogue to foster international understanding in her students. Next year she hopes the two groups of students will be able to achieve video conferencing.
She just hopes that the carrent conflict will not avert her plans.
"They are so genuine", she said. "They're just really nice people, and my students can see thatIt's just too bad that some of the diplomats could not be here and see this.
He told Pacheco that the priest at his church had discussed the bombing at a resent Sunday service and congregation to Serbs.
Pacheco replied that both of them Òrobably hear to some degree the news each government releases and that it's difficult to grasp the big picture.
Pacheco said he was upset last week after she expressed her hope that their students will remain friends despite the opposing stances of I told him that I hoped the Russians would not learn to hate us," Pacheco said. "He replied that he was offended
We thought they wear different clothes than us," said Ashley Bilyeu. "But they don't They dress like us."
"And they must like cats a lot," said Whitney Finney. "They all about their cats."
Finney said there was an earlier misunderstanding that bad the students worried. On Woman's Day, a holiday in Russia, the Russian students sent messages and attached