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The Lighthouse Chinese Program, in place in Cape Henlopen elementary schools for a year, has received mixed reviews from parents and students, Cape district officials say.
They plan to continue the program and are looking to expand it, but they nixed plans to add another teacher next year.
More than 2,000 students, grades kindergarten through fifth, participated in the program’s inaugural year. Students in kindergarten through third grade had weekly classes beginning in September. Fourth- and fifth-graders began classes in the second half of the year.
An external evaluator said students were engaged and actively participating and praised the schools’ use of technology.
Students scored high on vocabulary, numbers and character recognition assessments.
But based on a questionnaire, not all students say they enjoy learning Chinese. Responding to the statement, “I like learning Chinese,” 78 percent of first- and second-graders agreed, but only 43 percent of fifth-graders agreed. Three-quarters of second-graders said learning Chinese is fun, but only 39 percent of fifth-graders agreed. While about three-quarters of first-, second- and third-graders said they want to learn more Chinese words, just 37 percent of fifth-graders said they want to.
A mere 9 percent of fifth graders said they want to go on studying Chinese in middle and high school.
Those answers have led to the district adjusting plans for the program, which is funded by a three-year federal grant.
Mike Kelley, supervisor of curriculum and instruction, said the district was going to have a teacher come from China, paid by the Chinese government. The district would have been responsible for her transportation. That teacher would have gone to Shields Elementary School in Lewes and the current Shields teacher would have gone to the middle schools. “Based on fifth-graders’ responses, we did not think it was prudent to move that teacher. All our teachers will stay put,” Kelley said.
School board member Camilla Conlon said the lack of enthusiasm in older students might be a result of their school routine being adjusted for the program.
Kelley said in the upcoming school year, students in all grades would begin attending Chinese classes at the start of the year.
Kelley said the grant the district received is for beginning language programs and the district will pursue another federal grant to expand the program into the middle and high schools, he said.
Board member Allan Redden said, “I’m all for language instruction in general. It helps students in their other academic endeavors. Funding will determine if this program goes on.”
When Kelley made his presentation to the school board, Thursday, June 26, audience members questioned the wisdom of teaching Chinese in an area with a burgeoning Spanish-speaking population.
Board member Gary Wray said there is no federal grant for funding Spanish instruction, which would have been the district’s first choice.
Kelley said the district was faced with the choice of teaching Chinese or no language at all. The federal government considers Chinese a critical needs language and provides grants for its instruction. Other languages on the list include Korean, Arabic and Farsi.
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