Confucius classrooms teach kids about China

SMITHFIELD, R.I.—There was a tea ceremony, with guests from China’s National Tea Museum, held at two local schools Wednesday.

The Confucius Classrooms, one at Smithfield High School, the other at William Winsor Elementary School, provide Smithfield students, teachers and members of the community opportunities to learn about Chinese language and culture.

The Smithfield-CIBU program is the first of its kind and was funded by China’s Office of Chinese Language Council International.

There are more than 300 Confucius Institutes around the world. Bryant University opened one in 2006, but this the first time such an institute has partnered with an elementary school.