South Florida Sun Sentinel from Fort Lauderdale, Florida • A9

pn SunSentinel.com Sun Sentinel 9A SunSentinel ESTABLISHED MARCH 14, 1911 Howard SaltZ Publisher Editor-in-Chief Rosemary O'Hara Editorial Page Editor Dana Banker, Willie Fernandez Managing Editors Rob Cravaritis Vice President, Advertising Voices Opinion Si teach all children Spanish in school By Andrew Abramson No hablas Espanol? Me neither. Like most South Florida English-speaking natives, I took a couple of years of Spanish in high school. At least I think I did. I definitely took one year of Spanish, and I probably took two it's a complete blur because it was so unmemorable. We'd learn a few phrases, take a Choose a gift that keeps on giving multiple choice test, and watch VHS recordings of Lou Diamond Phillips' "La Bamba" in English.

It didn't have to be like that. We could all have bilingual skills that would enrich our education and make us more competitive in the job market Dual-language speakers have a leg up when seeking employment, especially in South Florida with an ever-growing Hispanic market. All it would take is our school districts treating Spanish as a core subject in the elementary level on par with math, science and social studies. There will be inevitable pushback from the "It's America, speak English!" crowd. Ignore that We're supposed to learn a wide range of subjects in school that may or may not serve us in the future.

As someone who pursued a career in journalism, science classes had a minimal benefit on my life. But I wish I had studied Spanish. Our brains develop at a rapid rate when we're young. We have a much stronger ability to learn a foreign language when we're five than when we're IS. It's why hip-hop pioneer and Miami native Luther Campbell recently took his 7-year-old son out of the Broward County public school system and enrolled him at a Montessori school.

Campbell was stunned that his son wasn't learning Spanish at Miramar's Silver Shores Elementary. "It should be a part of the curriculum," Campbell said. "It seems like a no-brainer, especially in the state of By Mark Merrill As a husband and father of five adult children, the holidays are particularly meaningful. Great experiences, family dinners and restful time with my family make this Your children need you to clear your schedule, sit down and explore the depths of an unknown world with them the worlds found in a story. if you make the time.

Your children need you to clear your schedule, sit down and explore the depths of an unknown world with them the worlds found in a story. Studies show that reading to children often increases literacy development, social-emotional gains and overall school success. Yet only 43.5 percent of children between the ages of 3 and 5 are read to every day. I reach out to you as a father first and president of Family First second. My personal experience has shown the value in taking time to read with my children.

My professional experience has shown the power of empowering other fathers to invest in their children in big and small ways. Family First partners with parents across the U.S. to help them love their families well and connect with their children in authentic ways. We believe parents make a huge difference in their children's lives through everyday, meaningful acts of love. Quality time spent reading with them is an investment in the future of your children.

You have one shot to raise your children well. Your gift of love and time will change their lives more than any expensive present will. Have an incredible holiday season with your family. Mark Merrill is founder and president of Tampa-based Family First, a national non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening the family. All Pro Dad is the fatherhood program of Family First.

Florida Kids pick it up much easier at an early age." Campbell coaches high school football in Miami-Dade County and sees teenagers struggle to pass foreign language classes, a requirement if they want to attend a state university. "Now we've got to send them out of state," he said. "It's not cool at all." The Broward County School District has made strides in recent years. Of the county's 136 elementary schools, 38 offer Spanish as a English-speaking countries have always been stubborn. We expect residents to learn our language, not the other way around.

the most special time of the year. Like me, I believe many of the memories my children will hold onto throughout their lives stem from the magical period of time between Thanksgiving and the New Year. Parents know the anticipation of presents escalates with each passing minute of the season. The options are endless and price tags seem to rise each year. Advertisers compete for ldds' attention and parents' wallets.

Brands court you with the latest device, hoverboard, game console or doll. Questions, anxiety and uncertainty stack up. What should I get them? What will their friends get? How much should I spend? What will they remember from this year? The average parent will spend about $271 per child on presents this year a statistic that continues to escalate as the definition of "toy" moves from Tonka Trucks to iPads. Technology isn't inherently wrong. Our children are growing up in a world where understanding the ability of technology to be used for good, improve business and life, and provide entertainment is important.

But it can also dominate their minds, replace in-person interaction and hinder relationships. When it comes to presents, techno-centered gadgets, gizmos and games can overshadow smaller, more meaningful gifts. My advice this holiday season is: Don't forget the significance of traditional gifts. In particular, don't overlook my favorite kind of gift. A book.

Books open up worlds of excitement and adventure for your children. Books dare kids to dream, to engage and to learn in ways far superior to an Xbox. What's more, books offer a chance to spend quality time with your children. The noise, activities and excitement of the season are a legitimate challenge. All the stress and demands on your life might make you feel like you don't have time to sit down and read.

I'd wager that you have the time, ANOTHER VIEWPOINT Remember, holiday cheer eludes some By Mark Roseman "At this time of vear" is the familiar How can we reconcile the planning for sharing time with our children when we no longer live in the same household? flead in for many jp articles dealing holiday planning. What is frequently missing is the subject of single par special. Every student in those schools learns Spanish for about 30 minutes a week. It's an introduction, not a foundation. Then there's the 35 elementary schools that offer an outstanding dual-language program where students split their day between English and Spanish.

But it's limited only one class offers it in each of the 35 schools. The students spend all of their six years with the same 36 children. Enrollment is often lottery based and is split between English-speaking and Spanish-spealdng natives. There is also one school that offers a French dual-language program, and another that offers Chinese. "In order to be competing in the job market, they need to have second language," said Blanca Guerra, the county's dual-language curriculum supervisor.

She hopes for future expansion, including several middle schools. Palm Beach County has a similar dual-language program with 17 elementary schools, four middle schools and one high school. But there are still 63 elementary schools in Broward County without a foreign language component. And only 1,260 children are receiving the immersive dual language program. The next step is finding a way for all elementary school students in South Florida to study a foreign language daily.

While the dual-language program isn't realistic for all children, some form of daily Spanish instruction would serve the community well. In most European countries, students begin their first foreign language at 6. In 20 countries, children are required to study at least a year of a second foreign language. The English-speaking countries have always been stubborn. We expect residents to learn our language, not the other way around.

Even Miami-Dade, one of the most bilingual counties in the country, offers some form of Spanish lessons to most, but not all elementary students. The School Board is currently weighing a proposal to require a minimum of 150 minutes a week of Spanish, beginning in second grade. Kindergarten would be an even better start. We're short-changing our children if we don't give them a real foundation in a language that can open up career doors. Watching "La Bamba" in high school Spanish class isn't enough.

Contact Andrew Abramson at 9S4-3S6-4062 or aabramsonsunsentinel.com. Twitter AbramsonFL. YOUR THOUGHTS? Send your 150-word letter to letterssunsentinel.com. By mail: 500 E. Broward Blvd.

900, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33394. Include your name, address and phone number. Letters may be edited for length and clarity, and become property of the Sun Sentinel. abbreviated time with their child. How might such a parent cope with holiday loneliness? To survive the holidays, those who will be alone, especially, should seek out activities through singles groups, search online for meetups, and similar local internet based websites.

Plan meals together! Reach out to other family members, siblings, and friends married or not who will welcome us. I avoided going out, feeling awkward, if not, ashamed that my marriage failed. Faith-based leaders need to reach out to their congregants who are separated, divorced, single parents. Invite these parents to a special dinner on Christmas Eve. Sponsor a luncheon on Christmas Day.

Have a latke party for single parents! Build community! I'm encouraging everyone who expects to be alone this Christmas holiday to search for opportunities to not be alone. Though your situation may not be changed with your child, your attitude will be changed. You will then find companionship, contentment, and holiday spirit. Mark Roseman, is CEO and founder of The Toby Center, a service agency that aims to improve child outcomes when parents separate through psychotherapy, supervised visitation and mediation services in South and Central Florida. ents, more specifically, those parents who as a result of separation and divorce live without access to their children on a daily basis.

As a researcher in child custody, and as the founderCEO of the Toby Center for Family Transitions, a child custody agency, I understand many of the challenges faced by a parent whose own role in their family has been redefined. I know the frustration and sadness parents may feel when their time together with their child will be divided based on a parenting time agreement or court order. As a divorced father, I know the sadness of being apportioned time with children, and the dreadful alone time. We must also understand the emotional difficulties a child may have when time with parents is determined by parenting plans and court orders. We need understand the sadness, even anger, a child may have when they are told that they are to spend, say, Christmas Eve with one parent, then are transferred Christ- mas Day to the other parent How can we reconcile the planning for sharing time with our children when we no longer live in the same household? Should we look at the guests coming for a holiday meal? If we celebrate Hanukkah, how do we apportion our children's time during the eight days of candle lighting, latkes, gift exchange and playing dreidel? How do we apportion going to services at church or synagogue? To whose church and synagogue do we take our child? As a trained family mediator and family educator, I advise that children be prepared emotionally for their being "shared" during the holiday.

They need to know how long they will be away from their primary home, family and friends during this time-sharing period. The other issue to be considered, though, is how a non-residential or non-custodial parent prepares for an BY CARRIER HOME DELIVERY All carrier prices ATronc Inc. Company. USPS 526520 ISSN 0744-8139. Pubfehed ever include applicable morning by Sun-Sentinel Company, LLC, 333 SW 12 Avenue, Deerfield Fla.

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