...According to Karen He, a Chinese teacher at Montgomery County Public Schools, most of her students are not of Chinese heritage. However, when news spread about the possible cut to the Chinese language program, many Chinese families, whether their children were in the class or not, passionately discussed the issue and brought it to the attention of Montgomery County Public School Education Board members including Julie Yang, who is also Chinese American.
Advocate for Their Language and Pride
Yang took the issue seriously. She explained to the Chinese community that the entire world language program within Montgomery County Public Schools was affected, and the Chinese language program was not the only one impacted. The budget cuts were so severe that many programs beyond language, such as the Montgomery Virtual Academy, had to close. She clarified that this was not discrimination against the Chinese community...
...Yang brought the issue to the attention of the Montgomery County Public Schools central office and the chief of academic programs. She emphasized the importance of maintaining continuity in language programs and the challenges students would face if the Chinese language program were cut.
"They might need to switch to a different language, which wouldn't be as beneficial for their language development," Yang stated.
Lost and Found
A few days into summer break, both Hallie Wells Middle School and Clarksburg Middle School informed their teachers and students that the Chinese language programs would be reinstated—again, without explaining. Neither principal responded to Yuan Media’s interview requests...
