Advocating for German

1. Advocating for German Shari Fox St. Louis Park Junior High MCTLC / MNAATG Fall Mtg. Advocacy

2. Goals • How to prepare, prevent “crisis” • What you can do in case of crisis • Discussion Advocacy

3. Keeping strong! • KEY: Good relations with • Families • Students • Colleagues • Community • Communicating importance of German • Everywhere to everyone! • Constantly Advocacy

4. Families • E-Newsletter every 6-8 weeks • Articles in the School Newsletter • Keeping in touch with issues, rewards • Your own Web Site • Homework/Projects involving parents • Extra-curricular activities (Clubs, trips, etc.) • Build their confidence in you Advocacy

5. Extra-Curricular Activities • “International Rollerparty” • German Club • International Cooking Club • Hip Hop Club • Talent Show • The more kids you relate well to, the better your reputation, the more your program grows, the more support you earn… Advocacy

6. School Involvement • Extra curricular activities • Billboards (subject matter, labels, etc.) • Project Displays • Displays about German • “Special” summative assessments (experiential) • Staff development (offer workshops) • Colleagues support active/important school members • ADVERTISE! Put it on district website, in the Newsletter, etc. Advocacy

7. Contests • GACC • Goethe Institute • Step into German • AATG • Contests are fun and when you win, its great PR! • ADVERTISE IT! Advocacy

8. Community Involvement • Use District Website for PR • Local paper • Service Learning projects • Companies / Tour German-based companies; make connections concrete • Germanic American Institute • Immersion school volunteering Advocacy

9. „keine Zeit“ Wer „keine Zeit“ hat, diese Beziehungen zu pflegen, riskiert ganz einfach sein Deutsch-Programm. Die Konkurrenz ist groß! Advocacy

10. Crisis? A plan to “remove German”, or “reduce language options” has been rumored or announced. What do you do? Advocacy

11. What to do • Don’t take it personally • Find out the facts: • Why? • When effective? • How (at which levels, entire or phase-out)? • Who decides? • What is the decision process? • How can YOU be involved in the decision process in a professional manner? Advocacy

12. Steps, II • Get the FACTS! • Meet with your principal • Take careful notes • Be prepared • LISTEN, reiterate to clarify • Du willst Gegenargumente entwickeln. • Your credibility is at stake! Advocacy

13. And… • If “choice” between 2 languages, WORK TOGETHER Advocacy

14. Samples reasons • “Spanish is the language of choice” • Need to fill the growing demand • “Can’t support such a small program” • “We need to ease scheduling issues” • “We need to free up money for …” • “Not as important as a life skill / no applications” Advocacy

15. Counterpoints • Form possible counterpoints/solutions to the previous reasons offered for cuts. • Know your community issues and interests • Remember…non-emotional, factual evidence is of the essence! Advocacy

16. Sample Counterpoints • How does cutting save money? • “Show the math” • Fund other program using grant or federal money? • German is not the only or even main cause of scheduling issues • “Show us how it could ease issues” • Offer solutions to the issues (get creative) • German program may be smaller, but growing / stronger • Attrition rates, enrollment! Advocacy

17. Sample Counterpoints, II • German as a business & science language • Different languages have different applications • Offering fewer languages leaves kids all with same skills --- who has the niche? • Importance of language choices in global society • Spanish is language of choice • Reduced options means less diversity • Most popular is not always the most beneficial • We are the educators! If it went by popularity, would there be math, science and reading? Advocacy

18. Sample Counterpoints, IV • German program may be smaller, but growing / stronger • Lower attrition rates • Increasing enrollment! • Show trends • Compare to Spanish, but not French • ? Is this a move to fund other, new programs? • Would make the budget point MOOT • Not wise to cut existing, strong programs in order to engage in new, risky programs. • You may never get it back! • New program may not be supported (remember Japanese, Russian…) Advocacy

19. Was dann? • Make a ppt. presentation on your German Program and its applications • Glaubwürdige Quellen angeben! Nicht einfach googlen. • Present personally to involved decision makers • Superintendant • Site council • Principals • School Board • Dept. Heads • Public Forum? • Get on the School Board Agenda • Have community support present! Advocacy

20. Kids • Kids are talking, what do you say? • Don’t ignore it • Answer diplomatically • Don’t be negative about other languages • Don’t let them worry • Reassure them of importance and relevance of German • Give them arguments to counter other students Advocacy

21. Und noch was… • Stay professional • Stay informed, seek communication with principal • “Inform, inform, inform” …everyone • Stay involved in the process • It may take years… Advocacy

22. viel Erfolg! Kontakt: Shari Fox www.myteacherpages.com/webpages/SFox1 Advocacy