The Cupertino Courier

In defense of Mandarin enrichment

By Barry Chang

Why a language enrichment program?

Many people asked us this question before and after we voted for it on May 12. Our superintendent, Dr. Bragg, stated very clearly at the meeting that this program is educationally viable, is fiscally sound and has strong parental support. The benefits of this program were presented to the board by experts and professionals at the March 24 meeting. There were more than 100 people who attended the meeting. After listening to the presentation, a majority of them spoke in support of this program and urged the board to implement it.

Ironically, the majority of those who spoke against this program at the May 12 meeting were not there to hear about it at the March 24 meeting. Some people who wrote letters attacking our decision attended neither meeting. A few even attacked this program before it was presented to the board on March 24. I wonder how much these people know about this program?

Instead of making a decision based on the presentation alone, a majority of the board members, the superintendent and the assistant superintendent in charge of curriculum visited the successful program at Forest Park Elementary School in Fremont. This program is in its fifth year of operation, with continuing expansion and a long waiting list to get in. During my visit, I noticed the energy and active participation from children in every classroom. I was impressed, learning that one-third of the third-graders and fourth-graders tested as "Gifted and Talented" (GATE) students.

Only 2 to 3 percent of students throughout the state are GATE students. In Cupertino, about 1,000 out of our 15,000 students are labeled GATE, about 6 to 7 percent of the population. Forest Park Elementary School has 33 percent GATE students in their third- and fourth-grade classes--about five times more than Cupertino and 12 times the state average. What a result!

With an ever-changing demographic in our communities and state, we need to learn, understand and appreciate different cultures if we want to have more harmonious and productive communities. I have been astonished by racial remarks I have heard in the meetings: "Too many Chinese here, and I don't like it," and "I don't want Cupertino to become a little Hong Kong." Racial statements such as these should not be flying around our communities.

One of the false accusations is that this program only benefits a small ethnic group. The truth is that this is a program open to everyone in the district on a voluntary basis. Any parent, regardless of ethnic background, can sign up their kindergartner.

Other benefits include parent participation, speaking more than one language, future job opportunities for the children, and global competitiveness. Like many other people, I chose to move to Cupertino in 1985 because it has good public schools. But most people don't know that one of the reasons we have very good schools is because the Cupertino Union School District has an open-minded tradition. As board member Debbie Byron put it: "This district has a very good tradition of embracing innovative, sound, excellent educational programs."

The benefits of the language enrichment program far outweigh its small cost of $2,000 per year per grade. When it is a very good investment, it is not a waste of money. It is just common sense.

Barry Chang is on the board of trustees of the Cupertino Union School District.

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