Why on earth would anyone want to start a Mandarin immersion charter school in the Menlo Park City School District? Is there some need or reason for the kindergartners and elementary school students in the MPCSD to speak Mandarin at this juncture in their lives? Please tell me. I would be interested to know.

"...backers...say a charter will not cost the district money because the amount the district is required by state law to provide for each student is much less than the average the district now spends on each student." Sorry folks, that dog won't hunt. The District should not be spending ANY of our taxpayer dollars on this proposal that would benefit but a few, if any. If people feel the need or desire to learn Mandarin later in life, then they can find resources at the college level or elsewhere. But to suggest a Mandarin immersion class would have any redeeming value or benefit for the kindergartners and elementary school students at the MPCSD is totally irresponsible. We need the precious few resources we have, to spend on such things as teacher salaries, school books, supplies and equipment, and for practical school programs that will benefit the MAJORITY.

Put this measure on the ballot so EVERYONE in the MPCSD can have a vote on this proposal, not just the Board Members of the MPCSD.

Actually, the scientific research supports teaching children a second language in an immersion setting while they are young, not as adults. If it wasn't proven, do you think that MPCD would have the highly sought after spanish immersion program that they do? Mandarin is one of the world's most popular languages.

@Proven: I am aware that we learn best by or before the age of 14 years. I also understand the practicality of a Spanish immersion program here in the state of California. But, Mandarin? In Menlo Park, or in San Mateo County for that matter? I don't think so. I'm 73 years old, lived for 50 years in Menlo Park, and I've never once heard anyone say that a Mandarin Immersion program is a necessity or that it would be beneficial to our children living in Menlo Park. Sounds like a typical "trendy" type of Menlo Park idea to me. I don't think being fluent in Mandarin is going to get our kids jobs when they get out of high school and college. Seems math, science, and computer science immersion programs would make more sense, especially here in Silicon Valley.

I don't see MOST public schools offering language immersion programs in languages other than Spanish. You say that Mandarin is one of the world's most popular languages. I do not disagree with you but I wonder if you have thought about WHO in our community might need to know this language and for what purpose. While raising bilingual children is beautiful, when the language is not one that serves the greater whole, it is best done privately by the families much as many other bilingual families (Portuguese, Italian, Punjabi, Japanese etc. do); Mandarin is best taught privately because it serves a small community and mostly for personal purposes. (as opposed to the purposes mentioned below.

Despite all the research on bilingual brains, a main purpose of the academic curriculum (as opposed to the art curriculum) in public education is ultimately to educate a population who will secure the future prosperity of our state. How will teaching Mandarin to our students support that purpose? Knowing the specific language of Mandarin will help a very small population of people, those going into business, those going into international business, and those going into international business with China. It is a widely spoken language from a beautiful culture, but Mandarin is not the language of the future in the United States. In fact, with the exception of the field just mentioned, speaking with one's grandparents and relatives is likely to be the second biggest reason for learning Mandarin. Bilingualism in Mandarin will not serve one of the main purposes of American public education, securing our future economic prosperity, and therefore is not a necessary part of public education.

If you would like your K-8 student to learn Mandarin or experience Mandarin immersion, there are many private schools that are available in and around the Bay Area:

Global Montessori International School K-5 - globalmontessoriinternationalschool.com
2314 Bancroft Way Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 845-6969

The school is a Montessori based education whose motto is: ’Follow the Child.” Children acquire Mandarin skills through songs, art projects, field trips and Montessori activities designed to develop a child’s inner curiosity.

Shu Ren International School Pre-K-8 - www.shureninternationalschool.com
1333 University Avenue Berkeley, CA 94702-1710
(510) 981-0291

Shu Ren International School is a private Mandarin and English dual immersion school serving students from Pre-Kindergarten to 8th grade. The school opened in September 2008 with Pre- Kindergarten, Kindergarten and First Grade and will add one grade each year.

Pacific Rim International School K-12 San Mateo - Web Link
54 Peninsula Ave.San Mateo, CA 94401
(650) 685-1881

Pacific Rim International School opened in the Fall of 1989 and is committed to providing children with the very best Chinese-English and Japanese-English bilingual multicultural education in a Montessori environment.

Chinese American International School K-8 - Web Link
140 Oak Street San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 865-6000

Founded in 1981 as the first Mandarin-immersion school in the nation, CAIS is recognized as the role model for bilingual education. The U.S. Office of Education called CAIS the “national prototype for the teaching of Chinese at the pre-collegiate level.”

There are also many public school immersion programs available in Palo Alto, San Mateo County, and San Francisco if you choose to move there. Many parents move to a city specifically to have access to the schools, so this seems a reasonable option for a family that would like their children to experience Mandarin Immersion.

The MPCSD is too small to support multiple Immersion programs at this time. The class makeup is not going to be representative of our District. And while it is not required to start a charter school, the intent of charter schools is to provide choice in low-performing districts and "meet the needs of low achieving students." Does this sound like Menlo Park? Certainly not.

Could everyone please re-post your comments re the Mandarin Immersion charter school, in the article in today's edition (10/28) of the online Almanac News. Folks need to hear from you. The link to that article is: Web Link

You can also email your comments to the individual MPCSD school Board Members and school Superintendent, as follows:

jlambert@mpcsd.org
mhilton@mpcsd.org
jchild@mpcsd.org,
shinshaw@mpcsd.org
tthygesen@mpcsd.org
mghysels@mpcsd.org