First, the cheap ignorance is really sad. Moving, Janesville will miss you, I wish you would stay and fight the good fight.
For those ripping the consideration of this...Typically classes or charter schools can be proposed by a wide range of school district employees. With the proposal comes consideration by the school board.
Ripping the district to rip the district is really pathetic and old.

So are you implying that Pregont knows how to speak Chinese and that he would not have been able to put a factory there without knowing how to speak Chinese? Both are unlikely. Try a little harder with the moronic self serving spin there, will you?

Anybody care to tell Joe Pregont that learning Chinese is a waste of time? How about advising Mr. Pregont that discovering more about the Chinese culture will not amount to anything? Judging by the stupidity of some of these comments, some cannot even see the correlation between Prent's successful expansion and learning Mandarin.

Joker this time I agree with you. The other forgein languages are taught in a classroom, we did not have to have a charter school for them. the cost ouweighs the "chance" our children would have. The mentality in the world today is we want everything and who cares who has to pay. I for one think my taxes are high enough in this city, and they will go higher now with all the businesses moving out! If you want your children to learn chinese,get a tutor, they are out there. The school board is now trying to find ways to cut the budget and I commend them for that. Teach the basics and parents who want this, use all your extra money and get tutors!

Moving, no one is stopping you. Good bye.

For those of you who did tell me to move to Madison, I agree that I should. Why would I want to stay here in a city that is doing so much worse than Madison right now? Why should I stay in a city with one of the highest unemployment rates in the state and no jobs coming this way? Why would I want my children to grow up in a place with such narrow-minded people who cannot find a way out?

"Kung Pow Chicken?"

"Be foolish to ignore"
per http://translate.google.com/translate_t?...

As a former Janesville resident who now lives in Hong Kong, I can only say this about the mindset of people who think learning Chinese is a waste of time:
忽略是愚蠢的！
Hu lue shi yu chun de！
Any of you forward thinking bloggers care to translate?

Joker. I understand your point. "Cost," is a dirty word right now. I'm not trying to make anyone feel guilty here. It seems to me that you look at the word "cost" in monetary forms only. I'm not belittling that. I'm trying to point out that we, as a community, cannot afford the "cost" of not having multi-lingual citizens. Although the price to pay for this decision seems far off, I guarantee you we will pay.

Well said JanesvilleNow.

It is also disheartening to think parents wouldn't want to give their children every possible chance at future success.

Multi-lingual employees already receive more pay, the chances of advancement are greater, English language skills are strengthened by learning another language...there are so many pluses.

Educated parents will also be taking their tax dollars to other communities if their children can receive a better and more diverse education elsewhere.

And to those who told someone good riddance on moving to Madison....oh brother, talk about moronic selfish attitudes. Imbeciles proud of their own ignorance.

Ok, people, those of you who keep on pounding away at the merits of a foreign language or preparing our young people for a global economy, I hear you, I understand and for the most part I agree. But before we can debate the focus of education in Janesville, we have to deal with the first and most important issue-cost. Cost and then how to pay for it. Many of you are skipping this important point and trying to guilt others for stunting our children's growth and awareness of the world. Deal with the cost and how we would pay for it first. Then and only then can we discuss and argue what languages should be taught,etc. Your "we will pay for it later" mentality is scary!

This is a bit disappointing. Not only the article, and decision, but many of the comments posted as well.
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It appears we many of us differ on, what exactly, we should be preparing our children for—unskilled manufacturing positions, which are so abundant in our country (ie, unemployment)? Or, should we be preparing them to be competitive in the current (and future) global job market?
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Germany leads the world in export revenue, followed by China (we are 3rd) and even France beats us on a ‘per capita’ basis. Although many of us in Janesville don’t often hear or speak Chinese, German, French, etc on a daily basis— many local companies are international, some foreign owned. Foreign interaction is more abundant than you’d think, even in a community lacking an impressive job market. Other developed (and most developing) countries seem to have no problem educating their children to be fluently multilingual; we fail to produce a legitimate excuse.
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Yes, we got by on yesterdays standards. Our children will not.

whoanellie, charter school or a standard curriculum, what do you have to offer as an alternative to extended learning for foreign languages. I'm curious, do you favor any foreign language or is it specifically Chinese you object to? As for the financial difficulties the WORLD is struggling with, if you were king for the day, what would you do with the education system? Cut back to the bare minimum i.e dummy down the system? Would that keep unemployment in check? I'm wondering what you would recommend?

Make no mistake, joker, I know the grant comes from taxpayers. I've been over this same argument in regards to the bike tunnel. This is a necessity. The bike tunnel is a joke that provides safe haven for those irresponsible enough or idiotic enough not to know how to cross a street or drive appropriately. Teaching Chinese is not something that "would be nice," it is not on the same level as band uniforms, etc. It is a tool that is needed in todays world. Communication is vital, and we are lacking in this area. I'm sorry that you don't see it this way.

Not really. What sounds stupid to me is...
1. Not applying for this GRANT TO ESTABLISH THE SCHOOL!!!
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2. Failing to recognize the necessity of learning foreign languages...Especially Chinese.
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Do you have any idea how much money we owe the Chinese? How big of a competitor they are to the U.S.? I don't consider this a "need" in the most primitive sense, like eating, etc. I do consider this necessary to our future. How necessary is French? How about German? Seriously? Asian languages are more difficult to learn than European based languages. I can say that with all certainty. I suggest we get rid of one of the many European languages that we offer, and start offering Chinese.
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We can't pay our bills, unemployment is extremely high, we are talking about laying off teachers, but doggone it we need a charter school to teach chinese!!! does this sound as stupid as it looks??? give me a break!

It is critical for our children to learn Chinese, especially in Janesville, so they are prepared to work in all the once American jobs that have gone or will soon be going to China. Makes perfect sense to me.

Apparently President Barack Obama wants everyone to learn a foreign language.

The British learn French, the Australians study Japanese and the Americans prefer Spanish. Yet this leaves Mandarin Chinese and Arabic out of the equation.

I think we need to move forward and teach a common neutral non-national language, in all countries, in all schools, worldwide!

Can ask you to look at http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=... and see a glimpse of Esperanto at http://www.lernu.net ?

Lakekennedy, where do you think the "grant" comes from? Taxpayers!!! For all the people who think we should offer all of these languages, where should the money come from? Yes, it would be nice to have our students fluent in several languages. It also would be nice to have computers for each student, new uniforms each year for the band and athletes, better pay for teachers,etc. But remember, you can't always get what you want!

I completely agree with all the comments favoring multilingualism. However, I was against the establishment of the charter school for Chinese from the get go . . . primarily because the current program being offered to the talented and gifted program students leaves a whole lot to be desired.

Excellent post, samibl. Being able to communicate, in any language, is a powerful thing. It is becoming more and more necessary to compete in the world today.

samibl... I was being facetious with my comment about speaking German. I am very frustrated with the attitude of some of the comments regarding "getting back to the basics". When I hear those words, I am hear mediocrity. I have friends all over the world and we are the only culture that is not multilingual. I am not going to repeat what samibl said but I will say I agree 100% with their comments.

Joker...The school board voted against "applying for a grant that would have led to the establishment of..." So, no, the money wouldn't have to come from our "money trees."
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janesvillecomments "better English - something this country and Janesville really benefit from." How about "better English - somthing from which this country and Janesville can benefit."

I rarely waste my time with all of your nonsense, but this issue is close to my heart. Janesville MUST wake up and get their heads out of the sand. The world is not a GM factory. The world AND Janesville needs people who can properly communicate in multiple languages. The school district of Janesville does the best it can with the students we receive. Problem is, many come from parents like some of you that love to comment about things you know nothing about, while likely ignoring that your children are slipping through the cracks due to your lack of assistance. To correct some facts-Janesville Schools teacher German, French and Spanish in grades 7-12. NO LATIN! Students in the district learn English very well, unless their parents didn't raise them to speak it properly either. Also, to clear up a MAJOR misconception- to answer the question of a previous comment. When was the last time you spoke to a German? You speak to some EVERY DAY. Statistically speaking there are still more Germans in Rock county, leaps and bounds, than ANY OTHER GROUP! The 2010 Census will still confirm that if predictions are correct. The fact is, that all Germans (and French) are considerate enough to learn English for us. They have basically given up thinking we will ever wise up and treat them with the respect they deserve. So yes, go and just learn Spanish so that it is easier at McDonald's and Walmart. Anyone that actually looked into the statisics would know that Germany and France and two of the most wealthy and powerful countries in the world. You want a high paying job? Learn French or German. You want to order a hamburger? Learn Spanish.

A former area resident had their daughter learn Mandarin Chinese starting around age 3. Don't look to the goobermint. If you want your child to learn any language, start early like after they are potty trained.

We need to start teaching children foreign languages at the elementary school level. Chinese would be a good addition to Spanish, French, and German. It's a lot easier to start learning a foreign language at a younger age and it promotes better English - something this country and Janesville really benefit from.
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It's time to redirect the excessive funding of sports programs in our educational system and start teaching children useful career skills like foreign languages. Making foreign language skills a graduation requirement and changing physical education classes to electives would be a huge improvement in our public schools.
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For every professional dribbler or punter our public schools turn out, America could use hundreds of graduates fluent in another language in addition to English.

Another Redneck Letter Day for Janesville.

I have no idea the money involved to keep the Chinese program, but just a question I have: how do we decide which foreign language to teach? A couple comments seemed to favor "traditional" languages.... as in the ones we've taught in the past: German, Spanish, French, etc. If Chinese is not a language we want to teach, why not drop them all? What the heck... when is the last time you had to talk to a German person?? Additionally, I believe the Chinese was primarily taught to the talented and gifted kids. We sure don't need that program anymore either. Those kids can just sit back and throw paper wads at each other just like the others that don't give a hoot about learning because their parents don't give a hoot about learning.

Maybe we should reconsider learning the Chinese language. We may need to know how to ask, Would you please lend us some more money?
How sad is that?

Excellent. Common sense, perhaps driven by economics has ruled. Adios, moving. I think you will be an asset to Madison.

They do teach foreign languages in the schools in Janesville, you know.

If parents want their children to learn another language, there are plenty of self taught opportunities out there. Buy some tapes and books and learn together with them, just as you taught them english.

This is a joke right? Seriously? I am really in shock that this was even a consideration....

Wow, the School Board finally had some common sense. There is no need for a Chinese school in Janesville at this time in our troubled city. Moving, if you are that clueless about the economic problems here, then good riddance. Go to Madison where you will be taxed into oblivion.
Jqpublic and others who were in favor of this-Where do you think the money will come from? Do you think it grows on trees? We have used the spend and tax approach for too long. Wake up!

My husband and I want to raise our children here, but we want them to have opportunities. One thing we want is for them is to learn another language as young children. When I hear about things like this not happening here, I think about how we will probably move to Madison in a few years. Of course, we will have to sell our house....

lakekennedy: I appreciate your comment. Unfortunately to many people in this community do not understand or look at the big picture.

Exactly!!! Why would we want our children to be able to communicate with other countries? Especially our largest competitor! What a waste. What we should do, is not learn anything about them or their culture. That will show them. Perhaps we should only teach U.S. History, as well.
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I understand the nay vote by the board, but definitely see the merit in learning any and as many languages as possible.

Thank you school board. Lets layoff and cut positions..........But to even think of adding something like this? It is called common sense, ENGLISH is OUR language. I think we have enough SPANISH, FRENCH, GERMAN, and LATIN that is already being taught to our children......Ugggh I wanna vomit!

I am so glad they decided against teaching Chinese in the schools. Let us get back to the basics and teach kids proper English again.
Dnt U No all kdz prtty mch only no txtng now???