In front of the palace are hundreds of ceramic hand sized figurines in traditional Tibetan dress. For a quarter, the figurines will unroll a six foot tapesty of the Buddha. Siu encourages everyone to come and see for themeselves what the park is all about. Two hours from Splendid China is P-tech, Pinellas Technical education center. The school offers an alternative education program, and special education for high school students.
Students study everything from automotive repair, to welding, to business skills.
Dennis Harrison, who was named teacher of the year in 1989, teaches conflict resolution, multi cultural studies, and drop out prevention. He also trains other teachers in conflict resolution, a process of giving kids skills to get along when they have disagreements. Harrison's commitment to peace and non-violence interested him in Tibet. He says it was the Chinese government that brought the issue to his doorstep. According to Amnesty International and the United Nations, more than a million Tibetans have been tortured, starved, or beaten to death as a result of Chinese occupation.