By Tony McVeigh
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wuky/local-wuky-875061.mp3
Frankfort, KY – Most Kentucky high schools teach foreign languages to students who are college bound, but the state does not mandate such classes. It should, says Education Commissioner Terry Holliday. "I would say Kentucky is very much behind in this category if we're not moving down that road."
Robert King of the Council on Postsecondary Education agrees. "There's this one statistic I've heard for years that there's more people in China studying English than there are people studying English in the United States."
While the topic generated lively discussion at this month's State School Board meeting, it's clear the issue will require more debate before it becomes a reality. One problem is finding enough people qualified to teach foreign languages.