MPR’s Tim Pugmire reports that Phalen Lake Elementary, a St. Paul school, is launching new enrichment program that focuses on Hmong language and culture. The school will also offer students the option of a Spanish program.
The St. Paul school district already offers several world language options for students, but school leaders say this effort was largely spurred by competition from nearby charter schools.
YONG LY: [SPEAKING HMONG]
Well, Bobby and the baby, just by looking at the picture.
[SPEAKING HMONG]
TIM PUGMIRE: Teacher Yong Ly speaks in English and Hmong as she reads a story to her first graders. Nearly half of the students at Phalen Lake Elementary are Asian. Most of them are Hmong. Lee says her bilingual approach helps students learn.
YONG LY: When I explain things to them in English in terms of vocabulary and comprehension, they don't. Sometimes it's difficult because we're using words that they normally don't hear every day when they're at home. And so when I explain things to them in Hmong, then they tend to understand me a lot better when I'm using it in Hmong and then they pick up the vocabulary faster because of that.
TIM PUGMIRE: There are other Saint Paul Elementary Schools offering French and Spanish instruction. The city's magnet programs include American, Indian, and world cultures, but Hmong parents have been pressing school district leaders to provide more opportunities for children to learn about their native language and culture. More than 30% of Saint Paul students are Asian. Many parents are worried their heritage will be lost as children become more assimilated.
Sai Kahng has four children attending Phalen Lake. Speaking through an interpreter, she said that she's pleased the East-side neighborhood school is now teaching Hmong.
SAI KAHNG: [SPEAKING HMONG]
INTERPRETER: I think it's very important that the school teach Hmong language here because in the next 10 years, when all the elderly are gone, the children will lose the Hmong language. And they were-- it will be shame, or they will be blame for not teaching Hmong language.
TIM PUGMIRE: Phalen Lake responded to parents' concerns by developing a world language class in Hmong and another in Spanish. About 7% of the school's students are Latino. District wide, it's about 10%. Parent Shelly Torres says the Spanish program is already having a big impact on her two children.
SHELLY TORRES: It's really exciting for my kids. They come home every day with something new. New colors in Spanish or new numbers, or-- they just come home with so much more information. It's great.
TIM PUGMIRE: The classes officially begin next month as a pilot project in kindergarten through third grade, fourth, fifth, and sixth graders will get to choose a language class next fall. Phalen Lake principal Jan Hopke-Almer says both classes are generating a lot of interest.
JAN HOPKE-ALMER: So if we have a class of 20 students, approximately, we're thinking that probably 8 will go to Hmong and 8 will go to Spanish and maybe we will have 1 or 2 that may choose to not participate at this time.
TIM PUGMIRE: Phalen Lake is also responding to the competition from two neighboring charter schools. Academia Cesar Chavez opened a block away last year with a focus on Latino culture. A charter school targeting Hmong students opened two years ago on the East side.
Hopke-Almer says enrollment this year at Phalen Lake is down 160 students from 2 years ago.
JAN HOPKE-ALMER: It is definitely-- that we feel it's meeting the needs of the community. And so in that way it is a marketing tool also, but it will be academically beneficial for all of our children.
TIM PUGMIRE: School choice advocates say traditional public schools throughout the country are making similar changes in response to charter school competition. Joe Nathan is director of the University of Minnesota's Center for School Change. He says innovative charter school programs can stimulate improvement throughout the educational system.
JOE NATHAN: District schools can convert to charter schools. District schools have the ability to adopt and adapt ideas that have worked in charter schools. And frankly, charter schools have the ability to adopt and carry out good ideas that have happened in district schools.
TIM PUGMIRE: The Phalen Lake pilot projects begin April 21. I'm Tim Pugmire, Minnesota Public Radio.
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