Q'orianka Kilcher - german world magazine

34
EDUCATION
www.german-world.com Summer 2010
“Stand Up
for German
Learning!”
How you can help
By Dr. Cecilia Cloughly
A
s we reported in our 2010 Education Special “What’s Up With German?”, there are some
very promising developments in regard to newly founded German-American immersion
schools in North America and a strong demand for German Saturday schools.
However, German programs are being eliminated in alarming numbers in public middle and
high schools across the US. The reasons for this unfortunate development vary from school to
school, but budgetary woes are the main one. Another reason is that German (and French) face
strong competition from Spanish and Chinese. The Chinese government is funding several
hundred free “Confucius Classrooms” in American middle and high schools. Administrators
save money when they phase out long-time German (and French) programs and put students
into the generously supported Chinese classes.
While hardworking German teachers continue to teach exciting, effective programs across
the US, Americans need to be more vocal in their support of German programs endangered in
these difficult times.
One of the countermeasures taken by the German community is a year-long national
grassroots movement on Facebook and Gmail initiated by the “German Learning Opportunities
Website” (GLOW*) in December 2009.
In cooperation with the AATG (American Association of Teachers of German), GLOW created
“Stand Up for German Learning” through Internet social networks. As of June, more than
125,000 teachers, students, and friends of German were counted in support of the initiative. The
goal however, is to reach 250,000 supporters.
How can you help?
�
If you agree that current opportunities to learn German should not be eliminated, register now!
You will be included among a total number of supporters (no names used). For the top ten
reasons to learn German and other helpful items see: www.aatg.org/promoting-german.
E-Mail users: This method allows you to speak for more than one person with one 60-second
e-mail to STANDUPFORGERMANLEARNING@gmail.com. Put your name (and those of
friends and family members, if you want) in the SUBJECT LINE. DONE! Send this message on
to your e-mail friends!
Facebook: Link up as a friend of “Stand Up for German Learning by GLOW" at
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=238376202315&ref=mf.
DONE! Send it on to all of your Facebook friends.
* GLOW is the free data base of over 6,000 programs, translators, tutors, and job seekers at www.LearnGerman.US.