Home > Gwinnett > Rick Badie / My Opinion > Archives > 2008 > March > 03 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USKids’ language instruction can’t override basics
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
My daughter asked me to pop in her CD.
No, she didn’t want to hear the Backyardigans for the umpteenth time. She wanted to practice Chinese from her school-issued CD.
Olivia’s a kindergartner at New Life Academy of Excellence, a charter public school where the often-called “language of the future” is taught. By the end of eight years, Olivia and other charges at the school should be bilingual, director Alphonsa Foward Jr. has said.
On Monday, I read with interest a front-page story in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution about Senate Majority Leader Tommie Williams’ dream. He wants the state to pony up $20 million to pay for foreign language classes in kindergarten in the state. He also would like for the state to put in another $20 million every year to add another grade to the foreign language program.
“The rest of the world teaches a foreign language in the early grades,” said Williams, who speaks Italian, Hebrew and Spanish. “It’s expensive, but I think it’s necessary when we operate in a global environment.”
Chinese is considered a “critical need language.” China, the Asian giant, will be a force to be reckoned with on the political and economic scene. We’ve been told that our children could benefit from knowing how to speak the language and have some sense of the country’s culture and tradition. Maybe so.
In 1990, the state started a pilot foreign language program that was well-received and recognized. It didn’t last, though. No governors or lawmakers advocated putting more money into the budget to take the program statewide.
Gov. Sonny Perdue proposed wiping out the program several times, but lawmakers put the money back in the budget. Last spring, Perdue killed it.
Williams is right. It would be a wonderful and worthy thing if all the state’s kids could start learning a foreign language in kindergarten. But here’s the issue with this pipe dream: the price tag. The kind of foreign language program Williams envisions might cost more than $100 million a year, according to the AJC article.
Talk about bad timing. State lawmakers are having a hard enough time funding basic school programs. They have pledged, and are trying to provide, an extra $140 million to make up for “austerity” spending cuts Perdue recommended in the basic allocation for schools, according to the AJC article.
The state needs to be practical, to teach kids reading, writing and arithmetic in a uniform manner. Equity in public school funding has always been an issue, especially for small, tax-poor communities that can’t make up for cuts in the education budget.
And we want their kindergartners to learn Chinese?
The only reason Olivia’s school can offer Chinese is because it’s a charter school. Those schools receive tax dollars, yet have more latitude than traditional public schools when it comes to what and how they teach.
The state needs to take care of basics first. Then, someday, maybe, we can make foreign language instruction a reality.
Just not today.
Rick Badie’s column appears on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Contact him at 770-263-3875 or e-mail: rbadie@ajc.com.
Permalink | Comments (30) | Post your comment | Categories: Rick Badie
Comments
By LB
March 4, 2008 6:01 AM | Link to this
I fully support the idea of having kids learn another language at an early age. Chinese, Japanese and Korean are especially helpful because of the economy. It would be nice to be able to read the store fronts that are in Asian languages. However, I disagree with the ones that do not have English interpretation since they are in America. Most other countries will not allow pods of different languages to set up small cities. America should be proud enough of it’s own country to make it a law to have English interpretations.
Another drawback is the concern things may eventually evolve into everyone being required to learn Spanish in order to cater to the multitudes of Spanish speaking people in Georgia, many who are not legal.
By Shell
March 4, 2008 6:18 AM | Link to this
It is a good idea, and it could be funded easily if someone, anyone, could get the school systems to STOP P*SSING AWAY SO MUCH MONEY ON ADMINISTRATORS AND ASSORTED OTHER PAPER-PUSHERS.
By Katie
March 4, 2008 6:48 AM | Link to this
I don’t understand why it would cost so much money. If an English teacher makes “x” amount, why would a Korean, Chinese or Spanish teacher be any more? Why not hire someone who is multi-lingual and save some bucks—they could teach all three. There are people out there who speak mulitpal languages.
By Katie
March 4, 2008 6:48 AM | Link to this
I don’t understand why it would cost so much money. If an English teacher makes “x” amount, why would a Korean, Chinese or Spanish teacher be any more? Why not hire someone who is multi-lingual and save some bucks—they could teach all three. There are people out there who speak mulitple languages.
By Lee
March 4, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this
Of course, the “basics” will never be filled. This is always a good excuse to keep new ideas from being implemented. Actually, better than Chinese would be Arabic for the outside world, and Spanish for inside the Americas and Georgia. Both languages are needed today, and both languages can easily be taught in each grade. But there is always a reason why kids shouldn’t learn something new.
By Jose Arcdadio
March 4, 2008 9:19 AM | Link to this
LB…Are you kidding me? Why would everybody be required to learn Spanish? Yes, there are a lot of latinos in Georgia. Most of them, unless they just got here, are learning English. They are learning it from working in restaurants, construction, etc.
By the way, why is language instruction so expensive in Georgia? Third world countries teach multiple languages. How are they doing it? Not to mention that kids in France, Germany, Spain, and Portugal learn multiple languages from a young age.
By pk
March 4, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this
Language learning involves using both sides of the brain. Learning a language has been recommended for the elderly in the early stages of dementia or Alzheimer’s because it is, in effect, the best “exercise” for the brain to keep memory and thinking skills intact. When children learn a language their thinking skills in all disciplines are greatly improved. In my language classes we also learn science (weather), math (numbers), social studies and history, supporting all the other teachers in my school. Why not begin at the earliest possible age to give our kids the greatest advantage?
By CBL
March 4, 2008 9:34 AM | Link to this
Katie, the reason why persons who are able to read, speak, write AND TEACH a foreign language are paid more is because they are worth more than a mono-lingual person. That’s the whole point of getting kids to learn more languages- to make them worth more to future employers. I learned another language in school and use it professionally and socially, and I have realized how beneficial it is.
If the State wants to recover from its dismal educational ranking, compulsory foreign language instruction would be one way to climb the ladder. Expose the kids to languages and cultures in K-5, let them choose their favorite in grades 6-8, and then get serious with it in high school. That’s usually the way it’s done in Europe, and their teenagers are conversational or fluent in one or more foreign language.
By Reality
March 4, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this
Georgia is at the bottom of the education ladder for a reason. I have lived in several states and on another continent. In the places I have lived, students are taught to MASTER THE BASICS, then they are taught additional topics. Here in Georgia, program after program is introduced (without testing or verification of validity) and thrown out within three to five years. The children never have the opportunity to master ANYTHING. Most children have never heard of the classics, and have very little knowledge of history (USA or any other), and God forbid you ask them to do math without a calculator. It’s sad. I am so glad my children are grown, I would not allow them to go to a public school here. I would either send them to private school or relocate.
By mmm
March 4, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this
Please check out my kid’s school’s website and the New York Times article about the school. The video on “an unusual friendship is particularly good.
http://www.intcomschool.org/
We need Language instruction!
By NICK
March 4, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this
How in the hell are kidz in Government schools going to learn a “foreign” language, when they can barely speak, read or write English?
Ebonics and Spanish need to not to be spoken in schools and ENGLISH learned.
If these kidz can not learn proper ENGLISH grammer, how can they learn anything?
By Jose Arcadio
March 4, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this
Nick, judging that you can’t spell G-R-A-M-M-A-R, you are the last person that should be giving advice on education.
Foreign language instruction is important for a myriad of reasons: 1)it helps with SAT by learning cognates. 2)it teaches your language better because you start comparing grammar rules from your native language to the target language. 3)it opens you up to literature that you never would have read if you hadn’t been introduced to the language. Jose Arcadio is from One Hundred Years of Solitude.
By Jose Arcadio
March 4, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this
Como la mujer que te dio luz trabaja en la esquina para darte comida y porque ella se disfruta el tiempo de los hombres.
By pk
March 4, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this
Children learn the basics of English i the home (and, now, in day care). Our schools expand and refine that knowledge to include grammar and written communication. Many of my students are raised by parents who are barely literate, despite having grown up in the U.S. as citizens. Spend some time listening to the conversations around you in line at the bank, the post office, the grocery store. Popular music and movies aren’t helping, either.
By Jordan
March 4, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this
I support the idea of teaching foreign languages. However, most 13-17 year olds lack proper English. English itself needs to be taught rigorously, with a K-12th foreign language program. Spanish, French, and Mandarin Chinese should be the main languages taught.
By karen Eubanks
March 4, 2008 2:09 PM | Link to this
get real, education is only a politcal issue during elections. Forgein Languages are essential for our students, unless you want to keep them below the international level. Our kids are compeating against people who know 2-3 languages at least. So to follow your train of thought lets let that continue. You want to talk about basics, Ok. Let’s talk. 1st. kids come to school not prepared to learn, they want to socialize. It is not the schools job to socialize students. Kids come to school at ages 4 or 5 years of age and cannot sit sit, behave to learn and the teachers are held accountable. what is the parent’s job?!!!!!!!!! If a child doesn’t do well in school, it is never the parents or kid’s fault , no it is the teachers. When is it time for kids and parents to step up and be responisble for their actions? Now and yes world languages ( German, Spanish, French, Chineese, Japaneese and Arabic) in k-12th grade as manditory. former President Bill Clinton signed a bill into law in the 90’s adding a fifth core class. Any guesses as to what the fifth core class is? Why itis world languages!!!!! Our Govenor didn’t even recognize that. As to Our State model Elementary Eduction program, other states used this as a model for their state’s program but goog old sunny cut ours out.
By karen Eubanks
March 4, 2008 2:11 PM | Link to this
get real, education is only a politcal issue during elections. Forgein Languages are essential for our students, unless you want to keep them below the international level. Our kids are compeating against people who know 2-3 languages at least. So to follow your train of thought lets let that continue. You want to talk about basics, Ok. Let’s talk. 1st. kids come to school not prepared to learn, they want to socialize. It is not the schools job to socialize students. Kids come to school at ages 4 or 5 years of age and cannot sit sit, behave to learn and the teachers are held accountable. what is the parent’s job?!!!!!!!!! If a child doesn’t do well in school, it is never the parents or kid’s fault , no it is the teachers. When is it time for kids and parents to step up and be responisble for their actions? Now and yes world languages ( German, Spanish, French, Chineese, Japaneese and Arabic) in k-12th grade as manditory. former President Bill Clinton signed a bill into law in the 90’s adding a fifth core class. Any guesses as to what the fifth core class is? Why itis world languages!!!!! Our Govenor didn’t even recognize that. As to Our State model Elementary Eduction program, other states used this as a model for their state’s program but goog old sunny cut ours out.
By karen Eubanks
March 4, 2008 2:13 PM | Link to this
get real, education is only a politcal issue during elections. Forgein Languages are essential for our students, unless you want to keep them below the international level. Our kids are compeating against people who know 2-3 languages at least. So to follow your train of thought lets let that continue. You want to talk about basics, Ok. Let’s talk. 1st. kids come to school not prepared to learn, they want to socialize. It is not the schools job to socialize students. Kids come to school at ages 4 or 5 years of age and cannot sit sit, behave to learn and the teachers are held accountable. what is the parent’s job?!!!!!!!!! If a child doesn’t do well in school, it is never the parents or kid’s fault , no it is the teachers. When is it time for kids and parents to step up and be responisble for their actions? Now and yes world languages ( German, Spanish, French, Chineese, Japaneese and Arabic) in k-12th grade as manditory. former President Bill Clinton signed a bill into law in the 90’s adding a fifth core class. Any guesses as to what the fifth core class is? Why itis world languages!!!!! Our Govenor didn’t even recognize that. As to Our State model Elementary Eduction program, other states used this as a model for their state’s program but goog old sunny cut ours out.
By karen Eubanks
March 4, 2008 2:15 PM | Link to this
get real, education is only a politcal issue during elections. Forgein Languages are essential for our students, unless you want to keep them below the international level. Our kids are compeating against people who know 2-3 languages at least. So to follow your train of thought lets let that continue. You want to talk about basics, Ok. Let’s talk. 1st. kids come to school not prepared to learn, they want to socialize. It is not the schools job to socialize students. Kids come to school at ages 4 or 5 years of age and cannot sit sit, behave to learn and the teachers are held accountable. what is the parent’s job?!!!!!!!!! If a child doesn’t do well in school, it is never the parents or kid’s fault , no it is the teachers. When is it time for kids and parents to step up and be responisble for their actions? Now and yes world languages ( German, Spanish, French, Chineese, Japaneese and Arabic) in k-12th grade as manditory. former President Bill Clinton signed a bill into law in the 90’s adding a fifth core class. Any guesses as to what the fifth core class is? Why itis world languages!!!!! Our Govenor didn’t even recognize that. As to Our State model Elementary Eduction program, other states used this as a model for their state’s program but goog old sunny cut ours out.
By karen Eubanks
March 4, 2008 2:17 PM | Link to this
get real, education is only a politcal issue during elections. Forgein Languages are essential for our students, unless you want to keep them below the international level. Our kids are compeating against people who know 2-3 languages at least. So to follow your train of thought lets let that continue. You want to talk about basics, Ok. Let’s talk. 1st. kids come to school not prepared to learn, they want to socialize. It is not the schools job to socialize students. Kids come to school at ages 4 or 5 years of age and cannot sit sit, behave to learn and the teachers are held accountable. what is the parent’s job?!!!!!!!!! If a child doesn’t do well in school, it is never the parents or kid’s fault , no it is the teachers. When is it time for kids and parents to step up and be responisble for their actions? Now and yes world languages ( German, Spanish, French, Chineese, Japaneese and Arabic) in k-12th grade as manditory. former President Bill Clinton signed a bill into law in the 90’s adding a fifth core class. Any guesses as to what the fifth core class is? Why itis world languages!!!!! Our Govenor didn’t even recognize that. As to Our State model Elementary Eduction program, other states used this as a model for their state’s program but goog old sunny cut ours out.
By karen Eubanks
March 4, 2008 2:19 PM | Link to this
get real, education is only a politcal issue during elections. Forgein Languages are essential for our students, unless you want to keep them below the international level. Our kids are compeating against people who know 2-3 languages at least. So to follow your train of thought lets let that continue. You want to talk about basics, Ok. Let’s talk. 1st. kids come to school not prepared to learn, they want to socialize. It is not the schools job to socialize students. Kids come to school at ages 4 or 5 years of age and cannot sit sit, behave to learn and the teachers are held accountable. what is the parent’s job?!!!!!!!!! If a child doesn’t do well in school, it is never the parents or kid’s fault , no it is the teachers. When is it time for kids and parents to step up and be responisble for their actions? Now and yes world languages ( German, Spanish, French, Chineese, Japaneese and Arabic) in k-12th grade as manditory. former President Bill Clinton signed a bill into law in the 90’s adding a fifth core class. Any guesses as to what the fifth core class is? Why itis world languages!!!!! Our Govenor didn’t even recognize that. As to Our State model Elementary Eduction program, other states used this as a model for their state’s program but goog old sunny cut ours out.
By Mark
March 4, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this
This is America, and English is the language. Speak it!!!
By Jose Arcadio
March 4, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this
Mark, you need to be talking to the people that butcher the English language every day.
And nobody is saying that you shouldn’t speak English, but that more than one language is enriching.
By pk
March 4, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this
Mark, unless you are 100% native American, your ancestors were also immigrants. As wonderful as English is, it is not the language of God.
By Mark
March 4, 2008 3:38 PM | Link to this
pk
My ancestors were from Italy, and you know what? THEY LEARNED THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE!! And they only spoke it once they learned it. This is America. Speak english!
BTW, The belief of a g-d is for the illiterate.
By pk
March 4, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this
I do speak English - and fluent Spanish, French, Portuguese and Italian. I have a Master’s Degree and fly airplanes. how about you????
By Mark
March 4, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this
pk
You want a medal, or a chest to pin it on??
By pk
March 4, 2008 5:10 PM | Link to this
I already have both, thank you.
By Michael H. Smith
March 5, 2008 10:06 AM | Link to this
I do agree with your assessment Mr. Badie. Take care of the basics first. U.S. English is definitely at the top of that list. All other languages are secondary in this country. U.S. English is the glue that unites a very diverse people into one nation. Any attempt towards making this country a bi-lingual, multi-lingual nation is viewed as a push to establish a foreign hegemony, in my not so humble opinion.
By jim d
March 5, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this
The other side of that coin Rick is that America is (and will continue as) the worlds leading consumer.
So should we learn another language or should those wishing to ease the almighty dollar from our pocket, learn to communicate with us?
The fiscal restraints on our learning say 50-60 different languages(and or dialects) so we can spend our money seems rather wasteful and irrational. My thought here is that anyone wishing to do business in a foriegn country should learn not only the language but the customs as well.
Understand, I have no problem with learning other languages, my issue is that tax dollars are subsidizing it when in fact those profiting are getting a free ride on the backs of taxpayers in this country.