[Millee]

Oh I don't know, how about making ENGLISH mandatory for everyone.

[MikefromOhio]

Oh I don't know, how about making ENGLISH mandatory for everyone.

Personally, kids should be forced to learn more than just Spanish. Let's go for Latin, German, French, Spanish and maybe an elective language, like Russian or Japanese or something.....but holding it to one language is OBVIOUSLY politically motivated.

[Liberty Valance]

I'd like to see english AND spanish mandatory. A second language can broaden your world like nothing else.

[Proud2BeRight]

When they are teaching Spanish, what curriculum(s) be reduced? Probably a reduction in non-essentials like math and science. (yes it's sarcasm)

[cloud8]

Studies show that up to about 7 years old is the best time to pick up a language. It gets harder and harder after about 17.
Most high school Spanish is a waste of time; an LM program makes good sense.

[TheForceOfOne]

Wow, and when they get to college they can get started on those porn classes dubbed in Spanish.

PROFESSORS & PORN
NY Post - November 9, 2005
http://www.nypost.com/seven/11092005/postopinion/opedcolumnists/57062.htm

[hershey]

Bingo, bingo, bingo!!!!!

[Hildy]

I think it's a great idea to make a second language mandatory at that age. That's when they can learn it the best. I'm trying to learn Spanish now at the age of 46. Believe me, it ain't easy! However, I think it should be a language chosen by the parents of the students, but it's a good thing to know other languages. I'm all for it. There was an article several months ago in the New York Times that rich parents are sending their children to pre-school to learn MANDARIN....can you imagine? That's the future.

[Clemenza]

1. There is no chance in hell this is going to pass.

2. I still believe that kids in the U.S. should start learning a foreign language in elementary school. However, they should be given a choice of Spanish, Latin, Mandarin Chinese, or any other language besides French.

[txdoda]

A proposed law would make Spanish mandatory

SPANISH ONLY ????....HOW RACIST !!!!

People should start demanding that ALL children should be made to speak ALL languages spoken in Fl.

/sarcasm

[brownsfan]

"George Muentes, an English as a second language teacher. "

And therein lies the problem. If you live in the USA, English should be your first language. You want to speak something else at home, great. But, in all public discourse, English is our language that binds us. Contributes to making us all Americans. Don't want to be American? Leave, now.

Think multi-culturism and diversity is good and productive? Ask a native Frenchmen how he or she feels about it now.

Sowing the seeds of our own distruction.

[Danae]

How about teaching kids to read and speak English instead of graduating them illiterate? Last time I checked, the language of say high tech development, is based on ENGLISH. That's part of the reason nonnative English speakers are not usually quite as good at coding as native English ones...

[I'm ALL Right!]

On the other hand, there is a lot of Spanish people here.

Looks like someone should have made English mandatory at Ed's school.

[Woodstock]

I am all for having other language classes available to young students. However, something like this..."NO WAY!"

The real agenda here is to water down the importance of the English language so Spanish can become the new national language. Sadly, it is already happening. All you have to do is look at the labels on daily items such as soaps and food and you will see everything translated into Spanish. -Asta la-

[doc30]

A proposal in Tallahassee is causing a stir in schools in Southwest Florida. The state's top democrat is supporting a plan to make Spanish classes mandatory for all students in kindergarten through second grade, just like English or Math.

Jeb, if you either sign this bill, or fail to veto it, I swear, I will never, ever vote Republican again. I guess that means I will never vote again. Don't you dare pander to the illegal immigrant crowd when you aren't even up for re-election!

[doc30]

One other thing, too. Why are education requirements being changed depending on where you live in FL? SHouldn't the whole state have the same standards? I thought that's the way the A+ Education plan was supposed to work!

[jude24]

It's a very good idea to require a foreign language be learned when the kids are still young. It's much easier to learn it at that age than in high school. That is why you see kids in foreign nations who speak immaculate English as their second language - most schools abroad require English language classes begin at the kindergarten age.

Specifically Spanish? It's the language I choose, believing it to be the most useful one to learn today, though arguably Chinese or Arabic might be more useful if it were availible.

[tutstar]

Sounds like an option. Duh!

Seems idiotic considering so many can't even read English well.

[Cacique]

btt