Sigh. There is something inherently disappointing in the tendency of American policymakers to talk about what needs to be doneand then fail to do it.
Latest case in point: We all know of the need to teach more students a foreign language before they enter tomorrow’s global economy. Yet, over the past decade, thousands of public schools have dropped all instruction in French, Spanish, and other languages.
So reports a study released by the Center for Applied Linguistics, which surveyed 5,000 public and private schools about their foreign language instruction. The study, conducted in collaboration with the research group Westat, was funded by the U.S. Department of Education.
A closer look at the report reveals that the decline in foreign language classes hasn’t occurred at the high school, where officials are heedful of state mandates and the coursework students need to enter college.
No, the dramatic cuts are at the elementary and middle school, where foreign language educators have long argued is where instruction should beginand must begin if more students are to truly master a language during their school years.
(more…)
