The Time Is Right To Teach

Chinese At NHS

To the Editor:

In recent months Newtown has struggled with how to move the high school addition from conception to reality. Public discussions concerning that process have sometimes been contentious and divisive. In addition, a few recent news articles have focused on egregious incidences of bullying and harassment. In an atmosphere of increasing negativity, the community sometimes can’t see how much is right with Newtown schools.

On Monday, February 2, Newtown High School officially welcomed administrators, staff, and students from Liaocheng No. 3 Middle School in Shandong Province, China. Martha Parvis and her committee transformed the back gym into a banquet hall. Culinary students created a delicious breakfast. The Newtown String Ensemble played with the expertise of paid professionals, and NHS Singers performed with striking vocal precision and beauty. As I walked through the halls after the reception, I saw focused students and committed teachers working hard. During it all, I was reminded that our children are the mirrors of who we are, the most important part of the legacy we pass on to the future.

To enrich and deepen the partnership between Newtown High School and Liaocheng No. 3 Middle School, our students need to speak Chinese at least as well as the Chinese teenagers currently visiting Newtown converse in English. To accomplish that, the school system must hire a Chinese language teacher.

In January, the town and school system began the difficult process of budget deliberations, made even more painful this year by the dismal state of the economy. Some town officials have demanded that the budget passed on to the voters be five percent lower than last year’s. I understand the call for large cuts in town and school spending. I also appreciate that in the current economic climate the temptation is to postpone the start of any new program. I would suggest, however, that the time to build the global bridges that will secure our children’s future, and ours, is now.

Sincerely,

Jan Lee Brookes

Legislative Council Member – District 3

38 Hundred Acres Road, Newtown                          February 3, 2009