Dist. 211 asks what's so foreign about language?

Officials at Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 may not have a foreign language department next year.

Fear not, the schools still will offer French, German and Spanish, but the department might be called the world language department to be more "inclusive and subjective."

It's one of the many curriculum changes board members presented Thursday. Other recommendations included adding the book "The Kite Runner" to the Advanced Placement literature and composition supplemental materials and waiving final exams during the first semester for students enrolled in the READ 180 pilot program. The committee makes recommendations every year.

The changes to the language department drew the most discussion. School officials are looking at adding Mandarin to the curriculum, with Superintendent Roger Thornton citing China's importance in the global economy over the next five years, saying the country produces 300,000 engineers a year, while America only produces 75,000. He also said India would be a player in the future.

"We have to get better at relating with these two countries," he said.

Maine Township offers Mandarin, but school officials warn it's difficult to find instructors. Thornton also said it would take students nine years to become fluent in the language.

"They'd be halfway home if they do all four years in high school," board member Bill Lloyd said.

Board secretary Anna Klimkowicz questioned the addition, saying she'd prefer Polish or Japanese to be taught in the schools.

However, board Vice President Lynn Davis said times are changing; she took Russian in high school "a million years ago," when the Soviet Union was a super power and America was gripped in the Red Scare.

"They don't teach Russian anymore," she said.