Consolidated High School District 230 may be adding Arabic and Chinese languages to its curriculum in the coming years.
The district’s education committee has been discussing merits of the two languages it believes will be important in the future.
“There are financial opportunities out there for schools and organizations out there interested in adopting these languages – everything from teacher training to teacher travel,” Education Committee Chairwoman Carol Baker said at the school board’s July 28 meeting.
Board member Mike Hastings said the district — made up or Victor J. Andrew, Carl Sandburg and Amos Alonzo Stagg High Schools – should consider teaching these languages.
“Languages that are the future, such as Arabic and Chinese, are being introduced in schools like New Trier and in Downers Grove,” Hastings said. “They are on the ball and we want to make sure we stay competitive.”
Hastings also said the committee is looking into the three schools standardizing honor and integrity policy and hopes that in the coming years students will be able to take multiple classes in those areas during the school year.
“We don’t have biannual or training in integrity classes,” Hastings said. “I think it’s something we need to move forward on. We want to make sure our students are people of character and people with values.”
