Preserving dual-language immersion programs upholds a community value

[Amy Maddox]

Our kids went to Glenwood and benefitted enormously from the MDL program. 

From ~the beginning (~2018?), MDL was in jeopardy. Little children raised in non-Mandarin-speaking households gave lovely testimonials (in Mandarin) at town hall meetings. The program was saved. Then it became STEAM2. This is a fine manifestation of the values shared by many in our community, for multi-lingualism and multi-culturalism. MDL instruction powered through the pandemic; families filled the gaps with special zoom meetings to learn ancient Chinese poetry; we met in well-ventilated areas to practice Chinese arts and crafts. In middle school, our child's Mandarin classroom was staffed by a substitute teacher with no language training. Still, the students persevered - many do DuoLingo to keep up their skills. We are nearing the "cliff" of 8th-grade promotion, after which CHCCS ceases to support Mandarin Dual Language education.

Despite both of our kids having 6 excellent years at Glenwood, we are not sentimental about the building. Many beloved teachers have retired or moved away. What is fundamental now and always is that we as a community make values-based decisions. Mandarin is an important language for our increasingly globalized world. Raising multi-lingual children with substantive intercultural awareness is of crucial importance for the health of our local community and the human family.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Amy Shaub Maddox & Paul Maddox

Parents of a rising 9th-grade Mandarin Dual Language student