Cynthia J. O’Hora

Selinsgrove Area School District Strategic plan - our priorities.

Adding the study of another language is not as simple as it may seem. 

Among the criticisms of public education is the concern that children do not develop strong skills in reading, writing, spelling, math, science and technology. Some leaders argue for students to be more informed about civics. A recent letter to the editor advocated for an emphasis on Pennsylvania history. The Pennsylvania Board of Education has added career studies from kindergarten through 12th grade. Librarians advocate for information literacy instruction. Several groups want public schools to provide economic and financial skills education. Still others believe instruction in the arts is essential.

Add to these demands the anti programs: anti drug and alcohol, anti tobacco, plus anti bullying training coupled with the character education. Health advocates are calling for mandated daily physical education for 30 minutes plus more nutrition education.

Suppose that a typical elementary school day is 7 hours long. Subtract time for lunch and recess collectively about an hour. Invest 90 minutes each day in reading, spelling, writing and speaking. Studies have shown that students need about 60 minutes of math each day. Proponents for inquiry-based science education argue that critical concepts need an hour. History teachers want adequate time to prepare knowledgeable citizens. The arts, physical education, guidance (antis and character), information literacy, computer skills, assemblies, rehearsals, remediation for children who need extra help and enrichment for the gifted learners are all crammed into the remaining few hours.

This time challenge is compounded by mandated annual health screenings, which interrupt instruction. Some people are pushing to add annual heart health and diabetes screenings to the list. We certainly want the monthly safety drills. Snow delays trim hours from a school day.

Where would you shoehorn in the study of a second language? Or would you make cuts?

We could extend the school day or year. This has many significant consequences. School salary and operational costs would rise dramatically. Employers would lose teen working hours. (Consider the ongoing fight over starting school before Labor Day.) Family farms would lose essential daylight labor contributions from their children.

Dismissing schools later would add hundreds of school workers and teens to the local roads during the peak evening travel time.  In the winter months, children would be walking home during the twilight hours.

School activities would require major adjustments. The loss of daylight could mean turning on costly field lighting, just as schools are striving to reduce electricity use. Valuable community based programs like dance classes, private music lessons, youth organizations and support groups would be adversely impacted.

Which language should be taught?

In 2004, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that over 30 different languages were spoken in Pennsylvania homes. In the Selinsgrove Area School District, we have a small group of students who speak one of 10 different languages at home. Should we teach one of those languages?

Ethnologue.com reports that there are 6,912 living languages spoken today. Mandarin Chinese is the first language of over 870 million people. English is second at 340 million.  Spanish is third with 322 million. Hindi/Urdu is 4th with 242 million people followed by several varieties of Arabic with 206 million people speaking them. German is 10th and French is ranked 11th.

Which one would best serve the students’ needs? Should the language advocates’ goals supersede the student interests? Should parent and local community preferences guide the selection?

Fortunately, several alternatives to mandating more languages through public education are available. Several universities are providing free classes in world languages via the Internet. They provide various levels of instruction using online videos.  Parents and children can use these to study a new language together.

See: http://education-portal.com/articles/Free_Foreign_Language_Courses_Online.html

Free Learn Japanese online from iKnow | Learn a Language article

Additionally, the National Security Language Initiative focuses on high school students interested in studying Chinese and Arabic by having them travel abroad. The Pennsylvania Governor’s School for International Studies also offers language classes. Both programs are open to local students.

World language education advocates should market their programs directly to the community. These classes would be free of the restrictions, both financial and regulatory, that control public schools.  They could work with the local media to offer language experiences. WVIA could provide radio or television based classes. Advocates could also collaborate with the local libraries to offer special language events and courses.

In 2007, 53% of Pennsylvania 11th graders scored proficient or better in math. Additionally, only 65.4% of all 11th grade students were proficient or better in reading. Local schools are working hard to help their students hone these vital skills.

 I support Pennsylvania Education Secretary, Dr Zahorchak’s belief that our public schools must remain focused on student achievement in the core content areas, as prioritized by the Pennsylvania Academic Standards. This is critical work for the sake of our children and the future of our communities.

published in The Daily Item May 25, 2008 My Turn Editorial column