[Vision2020] IB Program Axed in CdA School District

[Sue Hovey]

Ken,

Foreign language offerings are some of the more popular online classes Idaho public school students have available to them, but I'm not sure whether they constitute a blessing or a boondoggle. My family members who teach foreign languages (Spanish, French) don't have a high regard for them. 

Idaho schools, particularly rural ones, were bleeding from fiscal wounds  by the legislature, Luna's new laws, and loss of federal programs with no let up on federal mandates...in the coming years they will hemorrhage if we don't demand that deterrence you referred to earlier.  Ironically the state technology mandate will cost local districts big money despite the claim of total state support  This is a wonderful time for your "feral rodents" because the programs that teach intercultural relationships, foreign languages, critical thinking are the often first to get the budget cuts.  A possible example:

Earlier in the year Lakes High School, where the UB Program was cancelled, was being considered for a program change:  World Studies classes for all freshmen would become one of the currently required online classes.  I don't know if that thinking prevailed, but I hope it didn't.  At least one of the teachers designed his classes around a Socratic grouping that produced some powerful discourse among his students. Students were doing critical thinking, comparing economic systems and social  policies with no mandate they love ours and hate the others.   Probably not a teaching strategy endorsed by the CDA school board.. and, even better, thought the Board, the online offering will require fewer teachers and can be more tightly controlled.  This might have played into their decision to drop UB, as well.

Sue H 

Sent from my iPad Sue Hove

On Aug 7, 2012, at 4:41 PM, Kenneth Marcy <kmmos1 at frontier.com> wrote:

> On 8/7/2012 1:22 PM, Sue Hovey wrote:
>>> This reads as a traditional Idaho post-boomer education mismanagement and deconstruction article. The political perspectives of frightened feral rural rodents digging deeper their noxious nests to avoid actual cultural contacts with wiser sapient societies boggles belief, but bears notice, nay, demands deterrence.
>> 
>>  And from the above article of alliterative argument may one assume you intend to be a part of the statewide clamor from those who demand deterrence?  
>> 
>> In reference to the video,  obviously they aren't graduates of Idaho institutions, so I read your final  comment as a disparagement of Idaho students, and they do get plenty of that in spite of their successes in a state where policymakers do their damnedest to shortchange them.  An example: I had lunch the other day with a former student who could have been completely at ease in that polyglot conversation. He was on his way to a position in a Francophone institution in Montreal,where he will be teaching European history...in French, of course, but he could do it in German or even English if need be.  
>> 
>> And now I'll join you in that demand.  Frightened rodents take a lot of persuading.
> 
> Yes, I am in favor of better public education policies, resources, and management to achieve more desirable outcomes, especially for secondary and adult basic education students. When power is devolved upon individuals more adept at dismantling than at reconstructing the situation becomes at least as political as educational.
> 
> I neither had nor have any intention to disparage any Idaho student, but merely to note that it is not possible to learn all of those languages at Idaho schools. English, Spanish, French, and German usually are available at the universities; Italian, Swedish, Norwegian have not been available for some time, if ever. Idaho public school students may not be disparaged about not learning what is not offered to them, especially foreign languages not offered in primary schools, when an individual is more likely to better learn the native pronunciation, and thus develop fluency.
> 
> (Assuming, of course, instructors able to, and with materials to, teach appropriate phonetic basics at age level.)
> 
> Of the multiple reasons a person might want to learn another language, one that is applicable to almost all second language learners is that second language study broadens and deepens understanding of the first language. The comparative and contrastive benefits of second language study are an integral part of the process, and a benefit to all language students whether or not they use the second language with significant frequency. This seems a reasonable justification for requiring foreign language study for secondary school graduation, and as a component of adult basic education.
> 
> 
> Ken