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The Sunday, May 31, Business Matters section story on Massachusetts high schools hosting global students focused on those paying tuition to public schools. While they bring cultural diversity and a financial boost, technically these are not “exchange” students. There is no reciprocal arrangement for Americans to study abroad.
Though hospitable and generous, such placements remain fee-for-service. For many foreign students here on an F-1 visa through the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, Department of Homeland Security, the year polishes their English skills, becoming a stepping stone to private schools (the Cambridge Institute lists 250 in its network) and top colleges.
Exchange students receive a different visa, called a J-1. They are part of the “public diplomacy” initiatives of the US Department of State. Neither host families nor schools are paid. Voluntarily hosted exchange students do not pay for food, lodging and education, but are welcomed as guest members of a family, community and country. They do pay travel, insurance, personal and program costs.
Both types of arrangements have benefits. But communities need to be careful not to confuse a purchase with a gift. In 2014, twice the number of paying students (49,000) as exchange students (24,000) came to the US. Many public schools no longer accept non-fee exchange students. Money matters, yet only if Americans freely share their lives with exchange students, will volunteers abroad continue to freely open their hearts and homes to thousands of American (including Worcester!) high school students each year.
C. H. Smith
Worcester
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