Series hosting lecture on India

The Barnes County Historical Society Lecture Series Season 11 presents “India, The Land of Gandhi” by Mike Watterson at 7 p.m. April 16 at the Barnes County Historical Society Museum.

As a part of the United States/India Fulbright Math and Science 2008 Seminar, Watterson ob-served teaching, curriculum development and the training of teachers in various cities across India. The overall purpose of the seminar was to merge these observations into the broader themes of India’s history, culture, and society. Each city presented themes contrasting the extreme poverty and wealth of the area, the coexistence of traditional lifestyles amongst modern technology and the introduction of a modern progressive political system within the framework of the Indian people’s personal beliefs. India’s education system also reveals complex patterns with many poor children not having access to school and yet India’s system is able to produce numerous math and science professionals.

Mike Watterson has taught in the Valley City Public Schools system since 1976 and is teaching four sections of 7th-grade life science and one section of 9th and 10th grade integrated science.

He received the 2000 Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching and was Valley City Public School’s Teacher of the Year in 2000. Other awards include Japan’s Fulbright Memorial Fund’s Teacher Program in 2002 and Japan’s Fulbright Memorial Fund’s Master Teacher Program for 2004.

A 1973 graduate of Valley City State University, Watterson lives in Valley City with his wife Randi.

All lectures are held in conjunction with Valley City State University and are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Wes Anderson at 701-845-0966.

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