PVPUSD is considering reducing Chinese language program staffing at RIS, PVIS, PVPHS and PVHS.

“Reduced staffing” means the program will be changed from one dedicated teacher per campus to one teacher that travels to the above four campuses. This demands too much of one teacher and will provide too little for our students. The Chinese Language Program is academically rigorous and exciting. It prepares our children for a global future. They deserve focused instruction and a tailored curriculum.

Please Sign this petition. Let’s show the district we are concerned and that it’s important to preserve -and eventually grow the support of- these programs in the schools, not reduce what is already in place. One instructor for each campus is a necessity.

The Chinese language program has already been reduced toward elimination from the elementary schools in the district in the last few years through this practice. We must work to keep these programs which enrich our children and enhance the excellence of PVPUSD education.

PVPUSD has consistently been recognized as one of the top public school districts in California and the U.S. for decades. The PVPUSD Vision statement : "...develop the whole child to thrive in a globally competitive age and enhance student achievement by providing a dynamic learning community in a rigorous academic environment." and top Goal #2 : "Maximize the potential of all students by recognizing their individual strengths and talents. Create an academic program for students to best prepare for post-secondary education and careers." - should both be upheld and supported by providing the tools for success including support for a language that is the most spoken language in the world today.

One mom, Michelle Dee, sent a letter to parents noting : "I sincerely believe that having access to a Chinese language program in our district is a benefit that we need to continue to support at the intermediate school levels. That my children are able to read and write a language that is so foreign to English is an incredible asset which will impact them for the rest of their lives. Not only does it open up access to a world of business and communication with over 1.4 billion people, but also gives insight to a culture that is quite literally on the opposite side of the globe. Fascinatingly, Mandarin Chinese is a tonal language, meaning that word definitions change based on intonation. Similar to the way music is processed in the brain, speaking Mandarin also requires both the right and left sides of the brain.

In October of 2015, President Barack Obama realized the need for a push to learn Chinese. He announced his goal to have at least 1 million Americans learning Chinese by 2020 (known as the 1 Million Strong Initiative), claiming that if the two countries are going to continue to work together on world issues, they need to understand each other. "

We echo her perspectives. In this global economy and community, with Chinese spoken by over 1/5 of the world's population, learning Chinese can provide a valuable competitive edge in the business world and international society. Developmentally, there is the additional cognitive development stimulated by learning Chinese, similarly found through exposure and learning music, arts and sports, further enriching the overall educational benefit for the student.

Please preserve and continue PVPUSD support of the Chinese Language program in our Intermediate and High Schools with a dedicated teacher at each campus.