Letter: Early Grades Need a Foreign Language
Susan and Brian Daly write in support of a foreign language program in Darien's public elementary schools: "[I]t will have a lasting impact on our children and community."
Dear Members of the Board of Education, Board of Finance, Board of Selectmen, and Representative Town Meeting:
We are writing to urge you to support the new foreign language initiative for our elementary schools. We need a foreign language program in the elementary schools (most of us would agree on this) and we need it for a number of reasons.
We are strong supporters of the early integration of foreign languages into our schools and believe that the cognitive catalysts, academic advantages, and prospective professional opportunities afforded the multilingual student are simply too great to ignore.
At the same time, more information on and exposure to other cultures and traditions is a necessity in today’s world (and here in our suburban enclave), and that comes through language.
Even if you are not sold on the advantages of such a program, the market (i.e., the surrounding towns of New Canaan, Westport, and Weston) is, and this should be taken into account here in Darien.
(While we do not advocate blind “trend following” at all, in a community like ours that relies on the public education to support property values, does any property owner really want a negative differentiator?)
This program may not be perfect, and it may not be as rigorous and transformative as the proponents of early foreign language instruction—like us —had hoped for, but it is a start.
We (the two of us) would suggest that we (the Darien community) not—to use (in translation, what irony!) Voltaire’s now hackneyed cliché—allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good. Let's take what is on offer now, test it out, and hopefully build on its success in the future.
To each of you, we recognize that you are our friends and neighbors and are investing many many hours in overseeing our educational and governmental institutions, often without thanks or recognition. Many thanks for all you do for our town. We appreciate that this is a hard decision but it will have a lasting impact on our children and community.
Sincerely,
Susan and Brian Daly
Charley
9:07 am on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
I am tired of raising taxes, especially in down times like these so that your kids can learn French. Personally, if one feels that their children need to start learning French, Spanish, Chinese or Portuguese in first grade then suggest a tutor but certainly not at my expense or move to New Canaan, Westport or Weston. This is not a hard decision, we need to stop spending. I could provide a more sound argument for required musical instruments than for a foreign language but I don't think everyone wants to pay for it.
Michael Devlin
2:39 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
While I appreciate your aversion to rising taxes perhaps you should do a little more research before you make such a statement. The proposed program will provide benefits well beyond the exposure to a second language. There have been many studies performed over the last twenty five years that show that the introduction of foreign language in elementary schools has a statistically significant impact on students' listening ability, memory, creativity and critical thinking. Enhancements in these thinking processes has been shown to increase aptitude for core curriculum subjects such as math and english. The current challenges we face as a country are partially due to the short-sighted course of action you suggest by not continually investing in our school systems. Please share your arguments for music instruction, I'd love to see them. I'd be happy to share the volumes of research I've compiled on the benefits of the foreign language program.
Ed Infurna
3:04 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
"Your expense" is part of your resale value...our educational system is a large part of why people move here, and why Darien homes sell at a premium.
You think we should cede this to New Canaan, Wilton, or Westport? Seriously?
R Hans
11:13 am on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Definitely agree with this article! Early language learning has cognitive benefits and helps individuals in their academic and professional careers. Check out this blog post by a young professional who has used Mandarin to navigate his academic and finance career: http://mmla.middlebury.edu/blog/post.php?id=367
Debra Ritchie
4:17 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
I agree that foreign language should be introduced to our children at the elementary level. Has anyone attempted to come up with a cost neutral proposal? We want to add foreign language, but isn't something eliminated in order to make time in the school day for language instruction?
Charley
4:26 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Darien is doing just fine without foreign language in grammar school. If you believe in it that strongly then get a tutor, no one is stopping you.