Tammy's+Central+letter

Dr. David Roe, President 812 University Street Pella, IA 50219

Dear Dr. David Roe, President,

I am a graduate of Central College and I am an elementary Spanish teacher in the West Des Moines Community School District. I am writing to seek your support for the position statement of the Iowa World Language Association on the need to include world languages in the Iowa Core Curriculum. I have enclosed a copy of this position statement with this letter.

Central College has a long history of producing globally aware students and is a leader in higher education study abroad programs. After reading the spring 2008 //Central Bulletin//, it became clear to me how much you value international education and the need to “deepen our knowledge of the world and its ideals and cultures.” You have seen first hand the benefits of studying another language, traveling, and living in another country. Many students choose to study abroad while at Central because of the language experiences they had in elementary, junior high, and high school.

Studying Spanish at Central and having the opportunity to study in Granada forever changed my life and provided me many opportunities that I would not otherwise have had. I believe that these experiences are especially important today as we prepare our students for the increasingly globalized 21st Century. In fact, I believe that all of Iowa’s students should have the opportunity to study a world language beginning in early elementary school and continuing through high school and college, as so many students in surrounding states currently have. The Iowa Core Curriculum was designed by the Iowa Department of Education to prepare students for the 21st Century. World languages, however, were not included in the Iowa Core Curriculum. I do not believe that Iowa’s students will be prepared for the 21st Century without the early and continued opportunity to study a world language as a core content area in the Iowa Core Curriculum.

I ask, therefore, that you support the position of the Iowa World Language Association by writing a letter of support for the inclusion of world languages in the Iowa Core Curriculum. If your letter is received by November 6, it will be presented to the Iowa Department of Education with the position statement and other letters of support from Iowa leaders in education and business. Please address your letter of support to Sara Blanco, President, Iowa World Language Association.

Sara Blanco President, Iowa World Language Association c/o Carrie Mulvihill 1323 Victoria Circle Norwalk, IA 50211

I thank you for your support in this important matter.

Sincerely,

Tammy (Cross) Dann

1700 47th Street Des Moines, IA 50310 Class of ‘99

Enclosure