Kalistani Major History

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Empress Nicolette Seeks to reach out to Neighbors
"As Kalistan reawakens, we need to restore old friendships", says Empress
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
August 22, 5459


Empress Nicolette looks forward to meeting with Ruling Households of the Area's Monarchies

Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Nicolette has expressed her interest in meeting with the Heads of State of Neighboring Nations, specifically those with Monarchies. "It is our desire," said the Empress in a short radio interview, "to meet with other governing monarchs and sovereigns in the Anantonese Ocean region of Terra. These are our neighbors and should be our friends. The Anantonese Ocean has recently become a sea of Monarchy and our goal is to work with our fellow monarchies to ensure continued peace, stability, and tranquility in our own Corner of the world, even if other parts of the world tear themselves apart with war and famine."

The Empress specifically referred to her desire to travel to Dolgava, Kiezenia, Lourenne, and Indrala, but would also appreciate opportunities to visit Lodamon, Gaduridos, Seko and Egelion in the near future. "We should certainly make it a point to visit our cousin in the United Kingdom, with whom our realm has maintained the closest ties. But we should also like very much to meet the Kaiser Gustav and his family in Dolgava. It is our understanding that they have extended an informal invitation to us, through the Crown Prince, and we would be delighted to take the opportunity to renew our long standing comity and fraternity with our northern Neighbors." The Empress also said she very much looks forward to greeting the reigning Son of Heaver, Emperor Yao, and seeing the Heavenly Palace, and discussing Oceanic Affairs, trade, and cultural exchange.

"We of course would also like to visit the Republics nearby the Empire," said The Empress. "We have had our own history with republicanism in Kalistan. The Chancellor is convinced that renewing economic ties with Lodamun and cultural ties with Gaduridos will be in our interest. So we should take all opportunities we can obtain." State visits to Republican states have suddenly become more difficult than they were previously, because they will likely be marked by an informality which has been driven out of fashion in the restored Imperial Court. "We would like to note, however, that even is we do not find the opportunity for a state visit with our Republican friends, we nonetheless wish to express a fond good will toward you and would add you would be welcomed and treated most kindly should you ever make your way to Kalistan."

The Empress gave these brief remarks to reporters with KRTVN 1 after she gave a ceremonial address at the opening of a new art installation and charity fundraiser in Capitol Park, Kaliburg, and they were broadcast during the Channel 1 Evening News.

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Empress and Chancellor Give speeches on Non Aligned Movement
"The Non Aligned Movement is more important now than Ever," says Johnson
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
June 1, 5460


The Empress in Sulari and the Chancellor in Kaliburg, both speak on NAM

In a push to improve Kalistan's profile on the International Stage, both Her Imperial Majesty Empress Nicolette and Chancellor Michael Johnson delivered keynote addresses on the importance of Non-Alignment. The Empress spoke to the Sulari Seleyan Affairs Council in Sulari, and Chancellor Johnson spoke to the annual meeting of the Foreign Policy Council at Kaliburg Polytechnic. This speech series kicks off a new campaign to raise international interest in the Kalistan-sponsored Non Aligned Movement, of which Kalistan, Indrala, Kundrati, Rutania, Malivia, and Gaduridos are member States.

"We are at an important time in the history of international affairs," said Her Imperial Majesty The Empress in Sulari. "Kalistan has long stood for the principle of independence in our foreign politics. It is encouraging to see so many other nations adopting the same stance toward regional and great power alliances. While there is something to be said for large alliance blocs, we have found that they do not trend toward peace and threat mitigation but rather increased levels of international competition. As blocs square off, even a slight defection by one of the member states is seen as an existential threat to the entire system. Consequently, the independence mindset, and the Non Aligned Movement specifically, aims to offer a pressure valve of sorts: to provide those who do not want their foreign policy dictated to them by either a Great Power who is leading a power bloc or a collective security treaty, to have some place to go to stand outside alliance-caused conflict, and be able to exercise nuance in their foreign policy. The Non Aligned Movement provides an important counterpoint to the rather fascistic ideology which says there is no other alternative outside of siding with one great power or some regional bloc, on the one hand, and becoming a pariah on the other. In this regard, the Non Aligned Movement also offers an important tool for peace and diplomacy in international Affairs."

Chancellor Johnson added to these comments in Kaliburg: "The Non Aligned Movement allows nations around the world to realize that there are many of us who are actually committed to cooperation for peace. And the Non Aligned Movement is more important now than ever before! We believe that security is best accomplished through peace and dialogue, and the Non Aligned Movement guarantees both with our principles of Soveriegnty that supersedes any treaties that compel action in response to aggression in some other country, Non Agression between Member States, Non-Interference in domestic affairs, Mutual Benefit, and support for National Liberation movements across Terra. Membership in NAM puts us squarely on the side of those who seek independence from domination by another country in all aspects. Through it we are guarantees a forum, characterized by equality, for discussion of international differences, and more importantly, for opportunities to cooperate with one another in furthering mutual goals. The Non Aligned Movement is a major force for peace on the International Stage."

Both the Empress and the Chancellor ended their speeches with a call for non-aligned nations across Terra to join the Non Aligned Movement. "The larger we are as a movement, the louder will be the voice for Peace in Terra," said Empress Nicolette. "The more we can talk and work collectively for the common good of all humanity, the less we will need regional or great power blocs to dictate our own foreign policy choices to us." The Chancellor ended his speech with a call for a new Non Aligned Summit. "We would ideally like to get all Memberstates to agree to a new Summit to discuss how to grow our movement across Terra, to include Dovani States, who themselves aren't part of major Regional Blocs in Majatra or Artania, as well as including more countries here in Seleya, as well as Keris and Macon, who themselves aren't tied to a major bloc. The Empress has instructed this Government to begin the process of reaching out to Member Nations to organize a new Summit to this end."

The two speeches were attended by foreign policy experts and government officials attached to the Foreign Ministry, as well as invited Guests from Kalistan's KALMILINCO and various business interests across the Empire, who generally applauded the moves for Peace across Terra in the meetings, though several questions were raised to NAM's inactivity, and resulting ineffectiveness at dealing with ongoing international crises. "That is a fair critique and is certainly something we wish to remedy," said Chancellor Johnson. "Hence the beginning of our efforts to jumpstart the NAM this year."

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Minister for Infrastructure and Transport kicks off capital campaign for Ananto Rail
Public-Private Partnership aims to raise ₭127 Billion from the Private Sector
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
January 7, 5461


Minister Allen delivers speech before Blue Chip Investors at Kalsie Last Thursday

The Minister for Infrastructure, Xena Allen, delivered a key note speech to kick off the year long Capital Campaign aimed at raising more than ₭125 Billion from the Private Sector to help finance the planned and long awaited Ananto Rail Maglev Infrastructure project. "We are ready to go in the National Government," said Allen. We have matching funds already laid out for this project and now we need the Private Sector to step up and do their job to contribute to the National Rail System." The Minister's speech was delivered in the Kalsie, before about 150 representatives of blue chip companies, who gave her a cordial but tepid response.

"There is a reason that the investment community hasn't backed the Ananto Rail system in more than 100 years," said one investor, speaking on condition of anonymity. "Its because there's just not a lot of return on investment. We have more than 100 years of data on this subject looking at Kalistan, and the project while profitable, and provides private actors who are still in the pool a trickle of regular returns, that money can be used else where that can more aggressively generate profit for shareholders. Unless the Private Sector gets a majority of the votes on the governing boards of the various Duchy rail companies, we will never be able to make that investment more attractive than invseting in something like the Kalsie, where we can see 5,6,7 percent on the safest investments. 1 percent annual return just isn't that attractive to me."

Other investors, while saying that high speed maglev trains would be a great thing for tourism and commerce in Ananto, also said the problem is the public majority stake in the system. "We seem to be blessed with directors on the public side who are more concerned with giving freeloaders a ride," said Marcus Turner, who does purchasing for SLW ltd. "The State seems to believe that good political sense also makes good ecconomic sense when every Kalistani knows that those two interests tend to be diametrically opposed. I understand that they need to serve their constituents, but then they shouldn't wonder why a company who is in business specifically to make money doesn't just join in those money pits. That would be bad for business, especially at the margins we already have to operate at."

Other investors were more optimistic about the opportunity to invest, including Daphne Rodriguez, who is CFO for Yoshimi Entertainment, a major casino owner in Yoshimi, Suldanor. "The lack of modern tourism infrastructure in Ananto is what has dissuaded our company from expanding operations to the Island. We had a deal in the works to build a new casino resort in Luxon, and it fell through because the numbers didn't add up: we didn't have a major air or rail terminal there, and it is far too expensive to build around Kaliburg, so the building of a MagLev rail system on Ananto will be the thing we need to go through with our expansion. We will benefit from a lot of the follow on effects that the MagLev will bring, and that will put our calculations, even with this investment, into the black. We will be stupid not to help get this project off the ground." Several other investors felt the same and believe that they can make a big impact in this campaign.

"We all know people who aren't here who can contribute," said Mica Westerburg, of Ananto Finance. "An investment consortium might be a solution to uncertainty, and address the need for such a large sum of capital as well. We will be in talks with companies and sources of investment capital that we work with this year to found an investment group that can bundle lots of small donations and ensure people make their money back on the private side."

Government watchers give the public private partnership a 50-50 chance of succeeding but the move at least shows that the Government is interested in taking the initial steps to finally get maglev development in Ananto off the ground, which is something that has promised by the Institutionalists for decades now. We will track this story over the coming year.

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Foreign Minister Diane Smith flies to Deltaria
Imperial Government aims to lay groundwork for NAM in Majatran Nation
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
January 20, 5461


FM Diane Smith flies to Deltaria to represent Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Nicolette in initial talks concerning NAM

A recent opening in the rock solid Majatran bloc has caused sudden action on the part of Her Imperial Majesty's Government today, as news came that Deltaria has begun the process of withdrawing from the Majatran Security Cooperation Organization (MSCO). "This presents an excellent opportunity for the Non Aligned Movement," said Her Imperial Majesty's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Diane Smith. "I an really excited to have the opportunity to go represent Her Imperial Majesty and the Empire of Ananto and Kalistan abroad for the first official trip of this Government. I aim to lobby on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. As collective security arrangements don't necessarily work for everyone, and Deltaria has expressed dissatisfaction with the current arrangement, this is an opportunity for us to speak with their government and form the basis for a cooperative and friendly relationship between our two nations."

The Non Aligned Movement has been a top priority of Her Imperial Majesty's government since before she took the throne. "Her Majesty would like me to express that Deltaria, in a neutral position, would be most welcomed in the Non Aligned Movement. The benefit to Kalistan and the NAM is that the Movement will expand into that corner of the world for perhaps the first time, and the benefit to Deltaria is the serious commitment this Movement takes to independence in Foreign Policy, support for sovereignty and support for self-determination in foreign affairs. If Deltaria is truely committed to peace, as Her Majesty believes they are, the Non Aligned Movement is the perfect place for them. It will also allow Deltaria to begin posing as a counterpoint to the regional hegemony in that area and will offer other states an alternative."

Minister Smith left for Deltaria this morning. She is reportedly "thrilled".

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Vrassa District Records to re-Release "Reimagining Stepanov"
The 553 Year old Album is considered to be a "masterpiece" by generations
Vrassa City, Duchy of Vrassa
April 7, 5462


Jennifer Stepanov, one of Kalistan's greatest, at her home in 4901

The legendary alt-folk artist Jennifer Stepanov, who took home the victory at the 4905's FOMAT XV held in Vascania, is being reintroduced to Kalistani music lovers with a special re-issue of "Reimagining Stepanov", a tribute album of her music done by her contemporaries following her untimely death in 4907. The record, produced by Alt-Folk legend and mentor Joanie Yeardley, is a fitting tribute to a master craftsperson in Stepanov, and is an excellent time capsule for the culture of that time. While Kalistan's music industry is still considered the premier music industry in Terra, it has never surpassed the volume, nor the diversity in styles prevalent in the Republic of Kalistan in the late 4800s and very early 4900s. VDR therefore felt that the time was right for the re-issue. "We wanted to make this music available once more to audiences in Kalistan," said VDR spokesperson Annie McGough. "Jennifer Stepanov was one of the shining stars in the Kalistani Musical Galaxy and her legacy deserves to be remembered and celebrated."

The re-release honors the 553rd anniversary of the initial release of the classic album, which is considered by many to be the height of Kalistani cultural influence in Terra. The creatively explosive era featured the rise of several genres of music which still can be heard across Kalistan these days including Ska Punk from Dana, Grit and Alt Folk in Vrassa and KME in Sulari. Within a span of 16 years, Kalistani singers and bands won 3 FOMATs, starting with KME artist La Sol at FOMAT X in 4888, and including Dana ska artists Red Tone Ten Years Later at FOMAT XIII and Stepanov in 4904. Kalistan would not win another FOMAT until FOMAT XXIII in 5399.

Stepanov herself didn't handle her new and sudden fame well: Within three years following her FOMAT win in Vascania, she was dead of an overdose of alcohol and barbiturates. For all of Stepanov's notoriety, she never herself recorded a single full length LP, though she did release a number of singles. Her reluctance to record her music was increasingly frustrating to her label, VDR, who signed her and then fought with her over her reputation of being unreliable in the studio. But Stepanov has, for half a millennium, been considered one of Kalistan's greatest songwriters, having penned more than thirteen hundred songs in a dozen genres, many of which are considered masterpieces and exemplars of the genre. 16 of those songs were recorded by close friends and fans of Stepanov in 4909 and released as "Reimagining Stepanov," with the proceeds of the album going to recoup costs of production and then the album being made free to all.

The album features tracks from such early 50th century musicians as Red Tone, whose lead singer Monica Pella, herself a FOMAT winner, was a very close friend to Stepanov, as well as fellow Alt-Folk luminaries Joanie Yeardley, Jorgenson, and country musician Tom Duckat. It also features some of the earliest examples of proto noise Alternative in the songs provided by Alt rockers Salgo, Danica Dystemper and Severe Biter. A Psychobilly tune is provided by Lion Pack, who took Stepanov's place as host of the FOMAT XIV in Kalistan, KME is represented by Gaduri band Hola Unicorn!, Hard Rock is represented by The Jinglies from Sulari, and Alternative is present in abundance with songs by Davis Dulces, Hutori rockers Clash, Sunshine Alternative musicians 10 Foot Front, and The Murjras. Dub even makes an appearance on "Killer Meteor" by the Vrassa Dub All Stars. And Stepanov appeared on the record postumously, with the posthumously released single "Bombshell." All songs were composed by Stepanov, but the artists themselves were allowed to arrange them how they liked, to highlight Stepanov's versatility in song writing.

The reissued album features both the original single disc LP with all 16 original songs remastered, as well as a second disc containing 8 singles that Stepanov released individually on VDR, many of which were very popular in Kalistan at the time, and 4 additional tracks that VDR did not release but, but which Stepanov released independently and circulated on bootleg and dubbed tapes (nearly all of which has been since lost in the general public). The 2 disc double play LP will be available at record stores free of charge, with VDR paying all costs. "Stepanov was opposed to selling her art," said McGough. "To dust it off, remaster it, and sell it now that she is a ghost would be some of the worst violence that could be done to her memory. So we made the decision to put it out again for free, exactly as she would have wanted if she were alive today."

Original Front Album Cover is retained for 5462 reissue

Reimagining Stepanov, the 5462 Re-Issue from VDR can be streamed in full here

Track List for 5462 Re-release:

Disc One
Side A
1. Jennifer Stepanov- "Bombshell"
2. Davis Dulces- "You Don't Know"
3. Clash- "The Hammer"
4. Joanie Yeardly and the Kaliburg Philharmonic Orchestra- "The Sacred Chord"
5. Lion Pack- "Creature of the Night"
6. Severe Biter- "So Much to Say"
7. Red Tone- "Let You Go"
8. Vrassa Dub All Stars, with Angela Burnette, Ras Diamond and Vernie Dellarosa- "Killer Meteor"

Side B
1. Hola Unicorn!- "La Ingrávida"
2. 10 Foot Front- "I Know"
3. Jorgenson- "No Love's For Sure"
4. The Jinglies- "Winter in High Bong"
5. Danica Dystemper- "Simplicity"
6. Salgo- "25"
7. Tom Duckat- "My Sweetest Friend"
8. The Murjras- "Help Me Get Down"

Disc Two
Side C
"How Can I?" (VDR, 4903)
"Don't Leave Me" (VDR, 4903)
"Song for the Radio" (VDR, 4903)
"Faith" (VDR, 4903)
"Statue on a Mountaintop"" (VDR, 4904)
"If I kiss you..." (VDR, 4905)

Side D
"My Sweetest Downfall' (VDR, 4905)
"Watching Each Other" (VDR, 4906)
"God Can be Funny" (Independent Recording, 4906)
"Todo La Armada" (Independent Recording 4907)
"What a Strange Strange World We live in" (Independent Recording, 4907)
"Chips and Rocc Cola" (Independent Recording, 4907)

Original Story Published in Kalistani Rawk Monthly, Jan 8, 4909

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Empress Greets News of Deltaria's joining NAM
Calls for large scale advance in Philosophy of Non Alignment
Eveari, Grand Duchy of Ananto
February 8, 5463


Her Imperial Majesty greets reporters and gives brief comments on Deltaria's entrance into NAM

Greeting the news Tuesday from Deltaria, one of Majatra's most important nation who has recently begun charting an independent course in foreign policy, Her Imperial Majesty gave a brief, off the cuff statement to reporters from The Republic. The Empress was in Eveari for the month at the Imperial Palace, now that renovations have been completed and the Imperial Museum has been relocated to another building off the grounds.

"We would like to take this opportunity to welcome the Deltarians to the Non Aligned Movement," said the Empress. "Deltaria and Kalistan have maintained cordial relations for a long time after the Creighton affair was resolved, and we appreciated the opportunity to visit and meet their Prime Minister. Minister Smith reported that the members of their government greeted us warmly, provided ample entertainment and were very serious about discussing the ways that The Empire of Ananto and Kalistan and The Grand Empire of Deltaria might work together commercially, culturally and in the security realm. We believe there are many avenues for cooperation, and their adoption of the Non Aligned Movement opens a number of those avenues. We look forward to giving our military the opportunity to train with Deltaria as it stands back up again, and our consumers and investors look forward to commercial opportunities with that part of the world, which has thus far been completely locked against Kalistan."

The Empress was asked whether Her Majesty's Government and the Emperor of Deltaria may eventually meet, and she was non committal. "We have looked for opportunities to visit other nations, and therefore imagine that this is another avenue to explore. Nothing formal has been committed to date with the Emperor of Deltaria, but we believe our visit to the Grand Empire will lead to many additional opportunities. As she finished, her body man, Mr. Lewis Tamarack signaled to her. The Empress excused herself and headed further into the Palace, as Tamarack explained that Her Imperial Majesty, The Empress Nicolette would be in meetings with the Prime Minister for the rest of the morning, and directed further questions to the Office of the Prime Minister at the National Assembly.

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First miles of Ananto Rail line being Laid
Project to initially focus on link to Dahriel to Luxon
Dahriel, Grand Duchy of Ananto
July 20, 5463


Dahriel Station is will soon connect to Luxon by Maglev Rail

With the initial capital raised from public and private sources, and a new publicly owned, privately managed and operated company called AnantoRail formed, engineers and construction workers are beginning to lay tracks for what will someday become the last major link in the National Rail Line. The first tracks are being laid between Dahriel and Luxon in the Grand Duchy of Ananto, and residents of the Island are finally looking forward to joining the rest of the nation with modern transportation infrastructure. The rail line has been in the planning phases for nearly a century and a quarter, and it seems that each time a start is made on the process, it hits some roadblock.

"But we finally have all the pieces in place to actually begin construction on what will likely be the most expensive undertaking Kalistan has ever put together," said Doris Martin, General Project Overseer for Ananto Rail. "The funding is in place, through public and private financing to construct just about 200 miles of track in the first go. That will permit the construction of the maglev track from Dahriel to Luxon, which is just about 173 miles apart. As we build this link, we will continue raising funds for the next part of the construction, from Luxon to Kaliburg, which is more than twice that distance."

The National Assembly voice voted a bill that would allow imminent domain to be claimed along the right of way for the track. "We are attempting to cut costs by maintaining current infrastructure in place," said Martin, "but we will obviously be building a number of bridges for waterways and animal migration paths, so as to reduce damage to the ecosystem and to wildlife habitats. The land between Dahriel and Luxon is one of the least populated parts of the Empire, so it is our hope to run along the existing highway, using the wildlife points that system has set up to protect wildlife in the area. Where possible, especially in areas adjacent to forests, we will build the track as an elevated rail, so that animals may pass freely underneath, and neither wildlife nor train will pose a threat to each other. As in all things, this adds to the cost and will lengthen construction costs."

The stretch of track is expected to take three years to complete, if winters pass as normal, and should be opened for passenger transit in 5466. Meanwhile, construction on a new central station in Kaliburg will begin next year. The Current Kaliburg Station near the Mall is expected to be fully renovated and retrofitted for Maglev trains, that are expected to replace terrestrial trains. A new Maglev line will be build upon the existing infrastructure in Kaliburg, and upon leaving the city, the Maglev will connect over the Davon Mountains to Eveari, while another line will head to Dulnerstaad, and a third line will begin making its way toward Luxon.

"This project will be very expensive," said Martin, "But the capital campaign was considered a success, and initial start up funds are raised. Now that this project has finally left the planning board and is being turned into real miles of track, we are expecting more investors to come on board. Foreign investment would be nice, but we aren't holding our breath for that, especially since countries who are interested in investing in projects overseas tend to like to own those things, and that is quite impossible here."

Martin said, if all goes as planned, funds will be raised and all track will be completed in Ananto within 15 years. "There are lots of moving parts to manage here, but at least we now have them all beginning to fit together. It is the engineering project of a lifetime. We propose to complete it in less than two decades."

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Minister Perry proposes reforms to Kalistani Schools
Collaborative Learning and Kinesthetic Learning to be introduced in Primary Schools
Eshar, Duchy of Odufaray
August 15, 5463


5th Graders, instructed by Ms. Barbara McKinley, take part in Collaborative Learning Pilot

The Ministry of Education unveiled a new pilot program to take place in all public schools in Odufaray, and then to later be introduced all across the Empire. Minister Perry announced the program in July, and it ihas already started in K-6 elementary schools in the Duchy. Called the "Collaborative Learning Model" this program aims to take a leap at improving educational outcomes not by adjusting the curriculum, but by adjusting the way students are taught.

"The predominant educational model on Terra today is the standard banking model," said Minister Perry, who is Minister for Education in Her Imperial Majesty's Government. "This model is pretty closely tied with liberalism, and consists of students sitting in chairs, facing front, while some teacher, who is presumably, but rarely demonstrably, an expert in some subject matter delivers a lecture. The students are then asked to remember that information until test day when they regurgitate it onto a test. Those who cough up the information well are rewarded with good jobs, an easy life, and material success, while those who do not do that are labeled failures, kept in a life of toil and barred from ease and comfort. We try not to do this in Kalistan, but it happens far too easily, because 1) capitalists desire docile workers, and 2) teachers do not have enough training or imagination to try something different."

The Program actually began 5 years ago, when another pilot program was introduced across several colleges and universities in Kalistan to train teachers on collaborative and cooperative teaching methods. The emphasis in this model is less on individual achievement, and more on relying on those around you to both help an individual student find answers and solve problems, and to teach each other what they may not know. "When a kid goes into the workforce," said Michael Bennots of Kaliburg Imperial University, "they will not be required to answer questions or solve problems without any resources. Teamwork and creativity, especially when it comes to using and improvising tools to solve complex problems, are highly sought after skills in Kalistan's economy. So why do we still make children learn alone and compete with one another. There is no analog to a cold test in the life of an adult. We want adults who, while they might not know an answer, they can figure out how to get to that answer, and who are confident enough to ask their neighbor for help when they need it, rather than being too intimidated by their upbringing to rely on another person."

This pilot program trained more than 750 teachers, all of whom were hired by Odufaray Schools to teach Kindergarten through 6th Grade this year. "Most of the existing staff were given other jobs in the Districts," said Minister Perry, "or offered an early opportunity to retire from the School System. A new frame of mind should be free to establish itself without old ideas cluttering everything up." Following the placement of teachers, they were assisted by college professors, parent groups and school professionals to develop curriculum that 1) met national standards, 2) challenged kids at the respective grade level, and 3) introduced cooperative learning and kinesthetic learning techniques in the class no less than 70% of the day. "Some classes, you just have to talk to students," said Perry. "So we left a bit of wiggle room in the curriculum. But the students will have enough of the cooperative learning, and the learning by doing instruction that we may find that that amount of wiggle room is no longer needed." In cooperative classes, kids will sit in groups and develop their own projects based on the materials. Tests will be developed by both students and teachers, and grades will be aimed at diagnostics, rather than evaluation. "In the Sixth Grade classes, we will allow students to weigh in on their own grades, as well as the marks of their fellow students," said Perry. "You know you know material when you can teach it to others and evaluate others according to rigorous criteria. And when you can hear others' evaluation of you."

The new techniques adopted will allow the Ministry to adequately determine whether this new teaching style encourages learning and retention of material in schools where it is adopted as compared to schools left untouched by the reforms. "We think it will," said Perry. "In our hypothetical model, we will not only see the effects of a single year of cooperative and kinesthetic learning, by comparing the grades of kids who only have it for one year, as opposed to all seven in Elementary school, but also the differences between kids in the same grade but at different kinds of schools, those who have the techniques, and those who do not. And after the 7 year pilot program is completed we should have a really good idea about the difference these different learning styles have on all levels of primary and secondary education."

Meanwhile, Universities and Colleges intend to train more teachers in this method of information delivery. The goal is to staff K-6 Public Schools with teachers trained in the Collaborative Education model all across Kalistan. "We will be training upwards of 425,000 teachers," said Perry. "Most will be retraining, but there will also be a lot of new ones too. Even if we don't adopt the pilot program across Kalistan, we will still have teachers that will have skills to bring at least some of this collaborative type of pedagogy into the classroom."

This is a major step ahead for Kalistani Education and has the potential of putting Kalistani students head and shoulders above students in other neighboring states.

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Kalistani News in Brief:
New Links to Baltusia, Empress condemns actions of Lourennais Legislature
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
January 8, 5464


The Kaliburg National Assembly sees a lot of Action in a short time

Empress Nicolette condemns votes in Lourennais Royal Assembly
Her Imperial Majesty vocally condemned the actions being taken in the Lourennais Royal Assembly against fellow monarch Catherine V of the United Kingdom. "We know that it is not customary to weigh in on affairs of other states, but Ananto and Lourenne have long enjoyed certain bonds which make our relationship more than, I think, one nation to another. The calling of a reigning monarch onto the carpet for what amounts to pique of a certain few moralists is unconscionable, and must contain only embarrassment for our Cousin. These actions, especially the practice of Regalis Remotio, are a disgrace worthy of our condemnation. We call on the Royal Assembly to show restraint on our Cousin's behalf, drop any action they may contemplate against her, and allow her reign to recommense post haste. And we further strongly encourage the legislature to restore the proper relationship between themselves and their Queen, which is to carry out the business of the State, leaving the personal behavior, or speculation about such to the tabloids, rather than dragging one's nation's institutions into that self same sludge." The Empress gave these comments while briefly speaking to reporters about other matters of international import.

Preliminary Deals made to extend National Rail Line to Baltusia
In a truely historic set of discussions, initial talks about linking Kalistan's National Rail Lines to Baltusia have concluded with a plan to contruct a rail link across the border at Lucid Valley, Suldanor. Lucid Valley is currently the southern Terminus of the National MagLev system in Kalistan Proper. The city was chosen as the Port of Entry over the more superficially obvious choice of Yoshimi, because building across the swamps along the Lucid River will dramatically increase time and expenses of the project, in both Kalistan and Baltusia. Lucid Valley sits at the northern most point of the Lucid Morass, and is a much more geographically and ecological stable choice for a rail link. The link will be standard double track at Baltusia's gague, and will connect at Lucid Station to the National MagLev line. The project will be jointly funded by Suldanor and Baltusia, and will represent the first land commerce and passenger link between the two Northern Seleyan states since the 19th Century.

Kalistan offers cultural exchange to Gaduridos
There is some talk among circles close to the Ministry of Culture that Kalistan and Gaduridos have begun preliminary talks around a regular cultural and tourist exchange. Gaduri culture currently influences Kalistan, especially in Suldanor, and the Ministry has hinted that they would like relations between the two Eastern Seleyan Nations to become closer. "We are exploring opportunities to build these regular links which could increase both tourism flows, as well as trade volume between Kalistan and Gaduridos," said Ministry spokeswoman Erin Terry-Reynolds. "Gaduridos and Kalistan have long had warm relations over a host of issues, and Gaduri cultural influence is fairly prevalent in Kalistan. It is natural that our citizens would be curious about our Brothers and Sisters south of the border. We will take steps to facilitate increased cultural travel between our two countries, as well as trade in things like agriculture, technology, and durable goods."