The number of Chinese-speaking students in Wayne County Public Schools has virtually doubled over the past year, prompting some teachers to study the language to better communicate with their families. Hope Meyerhoeffer, director of the English-as-a-Second-Language programs for the school system, attributed some of the influx to local companies hiring employees from Chinese-speaking countries.
Last year, the school district had about 75 Chinese students, as compared with an estimated 150 at present, she said. The growth has been rather sporadic, primarily in the area that feeds into Greenwood Middle School and the northeast part of the county. Tne important fact to note, she said, is that the students do not speak any English and neither do their parents. “A lot of times they will bring someone with them when they first come to register” to help translate, she said. The situation prompted officials to consider an educational plan for themselves. “Some of the teachers said, ‘We want a Chinese class,’” Mrs. Meyerhoeffer said, explaining it would help with learning the language as well as gaining a better cultural understanding.
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