This article prompted me to register. I have nothing against teaching children Chinese, but if the instructor currently teaching this at the Jnsvl schools will be used for the new program, please think again! Most of the kids that started in this program in the 5th grade have dropped out since then.

keithrg13: Got it. IMHO, it's best to spell it out here. Occasional sarcasm works, but too much and many/most won't get it. Consider the adjacent comments and those who authored them! Thanks for the clarification.

Oh darn it SuperDave; read my post again more carefully and read between the lines. I probably believe more than any other writer on this blog string that we Americans should learn more about the Chinese. But, not for the same Kum-Bay-Yah reasons others on this posting exchange seem to.
I believe it is imperative we know the Chinese because it is possible they could once again become our military enemies. It is obvious that at this time they are engaging in economic combat with us and we are losing.
"Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer." Everyone likes to forget the Chinese have nukes; and, their neighbor the North Korean regime is China's special train wreck of a friend.
I am all bummed out I have to spell it out in boring rhetoric in this second post. If someone as attentive as you did not get my gibes, I have to go back to the drawing board. I prefer to write in wry sarcasams. Flat rants are boring.
Bob Keith
cooldadiomedia.com

SRK: You nailed it again with your 11:56AM post. (I'll forgive your other, obviously "exaperated by the ignorant" post).
darwin1 and BayMom: Way off. You're missing the big picture. Read some of the posts here.
keithrg13: You think that, because China has problems, it doesn't make sense for some to learn their languages? Seems to me that it makes all the more sense. Like it or not, China is our trading partner. I wasn't sure, so I just turned over the keyboard on which I am typing this comment...yes, it was made in China. So they may have a thing or two to teach us. And note - I purchased this PC in 1999. No matter whether you choose to accept it or not, China will continue to increase its influence in the world in our lifetime.

Proartist: 我同意

Right on darwin1,BayMom,keithrg13.

Good points made by all. I have changed my stance. We should not offer educational programs that might make our students competitive in the work force at all. Shut down all extra-curriculars, eliminate all electives, and let's push the kids through the system without challenging them or even attempting to make them interested in education. Clearly Janesville and its residents have always only been a throw-away community whose existence was solely tied to pleasure of GM. No future for Janesville. My sincere apologies for thinking we should attempt to provide hope and promise to our youth.

With a budget like SDJ's, now is not the time to add any new programs.

Considering the economy continues to worsen - pundits openly using the term "Depression" - do Janesville kids really need to know Chinese to work in auto parts, rental trailers, junk food, bartending, and to deliver pizza?
Perhaps however, the Chinese knowledge will come in handy the next time once again, China poisons our pets, sends us more lead-paint toys, puts anti-freeze in cough medicine, and distributes tainted tooth past.
And finally, much was mentioned in this article about typical Chinese cultural mainstays that are paramount for kids to know. No, no however mention that the China I believe we are talking about here (mainland communist China as opposed to Taiwan) is indeed Communist with a twist of neo-corporate facsism, and oh by the way, they harvest organs out of prisoners. I hope they buff the kids up on how China manipulates its currency to under cut the rest of the world's economy. And, perhaps we could touch just a minute or two on how the Chinese seem to ignore world patent, copywrite, and trademark protocols. We might also touch on the odd behavior of the Chinese government hunting down people that Google words like "democracy," "Tibet," and, "1989 Tiananmen Square massacre."
I was wondering if the good school district might mention these realities now and then or perhaps just hope the kids don't ever ask?

Bob Keith
cooldadiomedia.com

BWAAAHAHAHAHAHA! Janesville being the boom town that it is, can afford this kind of highly useful ****.

Hold up.

Extreme views may be moderately entertaining, but they aren't grounded in reality. I again reiterate that just because the district decides to teach Chinese doesn't mean that everything else is going to be thrown aside. Further, Chinese isn't the be all end all either. Diverse programs, competitive programs, effective programs, these are what the district needs. I have no qualms with having another OPTION for parents and students.

And trust me; we are not going to end up with a bunch of 7 year old transcendental ninjas run amok.

Meditation?

We're going to be using school time and public to teach new-age religion to kindergarteners and up?

I'm not too thrilled about the martial arts idea, either. At reputable dojos, they're very careful to whom they teach martial arts, wanting only those who are self-controlled and will "use their powers for good". Do we want our public schools turning these children into lethal weapons?

Adding a Chinese language class a few times a week is one thing, but this immersion concept, as if the children were being raised in communist China, seems ridiculous and wasteful, both of taxpayers' money and of the children's valuable educational time.

Language learning can occur at any age so long as the person is motivated. It isn't easier when you are younger, you just have more time to do it. And there are many many resources that make learning a language easy to do on your own. I don't know that I would quote some quasi government agency about what the future holds. They are always wrong. I guess learning Chinese is important especially if we will need to know how to say, "Is there lead paint in that toy."

Nothing surprises me with the JSB they can't even keep an IT department functioning and we talk about a Chinese education.

Sure, yank the TAG teachers and add foreign language teachers. That is sure to benefit many more children to acheive their goals in life. Sorry, doesn't get my vote.

The Standards for Foreign Language Learning deems learning Chinese critical for Americans "in terms of both economic advantages and national interest."

Language development is at its peak in early childhood years. Waiting until High School is an enormous mistake.

For those thinking Spanish should be the choice just because that's what is spoken at the local mall, ask yourself who is the bigger client in the global economy...China or Mexico? Why would anyone want to limit their child's potential to just their own backyard? Why not make the most of that amazing learning curve they have when in elementary school to enhance their future potential for job success.

And it is true, once you've learned a second language, others come more quickly because you have a foundation already in place for understanding the conjugation of verbs, commons words based on derivation (i.e. Latin based), etc.

It is worrisome to read some comments on here that hint of parents not wanting their kids to be smarter than they are. Yikes, how selfish.

the chinese won't have to use english on their sales labels on all the stuff we buy from them if we all learn chinese. what in heavens name is the school board thinking. why don't they all take a vacation for, say, three years.

When I was young it was Japan and the Japanese who would rule the world and we were told we should study Japanese. Then, things went terribly wrong. The same will be true of China. China has a historically difficult time holding itself together. It is corrupt and cannot guarantee any kind of standards. Eventually, businesses will grow tired of the stealing, corruption and difficulties of doing business and realize it is a losing proposition. China may have a billion people, but it doesn't have a billion consumers yet.

We can do more than just one thing. We are a talented people, are we not? Offering a Chinese program does not mean that ELL programs are going to be negatively impacted. Offering Chinese does not mean that Spanish will no longer be offered. Further, most of the people that speak another another language that you are attempting to eavesdrop on in the community are fluent English speakers.

CTBP, the ability to learn a second language peaks well before high school and declines thereafter. If it is to be done at all, it should be done as early as possible.
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Note that learning just one second language makes it easier to learn a third or fourth later on in life.
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As for the bigots, you do realize that CHILDREN of immigrants are often fluent English speakers? It is adult immigrants who have trouble learning English (if they have the time and money to do so), which simply reinforces my earlier point about starting early. I don't expect reality to intrude on your prejudices, though.

rosewood- I agree. It's pretty bad when half of Janesville speaks spanish and you go to the mall and can't understand half of the people there. I think since Hispanics are becoming more common in America we should focus on learning Spanish at a young age- not Chinese!

I think we should have an English class so we don't have to pay extra for Spanish teachers, plolice officers and anyone else that lives in the USA and chooses not to talk English.

Totally stupid and total waste of money. I just wonder if there will be any students left in the school system to teach to.

Of course English is important. It is the power language of our culture. That is not to say however that there are doors open to only those who know other languages. Offering programs that keep as many doors open for our students is the job of the school district. Can anyone tell me how learning anything is bad?

chelleandlou, you're right. what's wrong with this picture? I can see if they offer to teach chinese in senior high or higher.

chelleandlou, the elementary level is the best time to begin learning a second language. This is not about the primary language anyone speaks. This is about creating future opportunities for Janesville's next generation.
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English may be "universal" in that it is the most WIDELY spoken language, but Mandarin Chinese has the most speakers. And like it or not, China is the second largest trading partner of the United States.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lan...
http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/top/...

好主意

As always, the devil is in the details. But in general, I think that learning any foreign language is a tremendous benefit, so much so that it should be a requirement. Chinese is a logical choice, as China will continue to increase their influence throughout the 21st century.

Is this a form of job training?

Please make that a detailed financial statement in my previous comment.

One of Janesville's retired administrators, in 2006-2007, visited handpicked schools in China. He returned saying that the youth in the United States, in order to compete with China's youth in the financial/business world, will need to learn Chinese. I am surprised it has taken this long for the topic to come up in the Janesville Schools. Remember we are always on the "cutting edge" of everything. I wonder whose cap this feather will go into. I also was told this is a done deal, along with two other elementary schools who will be offering instruction in a language other than Chinese. Before we commit to yet another "Charter School" I would like to see a detailed financial showing exactly what the cost is of each of these "Charter Schools." The public is led to believe, eventually they pay for themselves, and no longer need additional money from the district. Show the taxpayers the facts.

Chinese at elementary level? Are you kidding!

While I do believe knowing another language is a plus, I think ENGLISH is more important; believe it or not it's a universal language, and it should be a requirement of citizenship in the United States that you know it and speak it. If I recall my history it did used to be a requirement many many years ago.

cool,something different.....

Chinese hmmmmmmmmmm interesting at the least.