You know, I was doing a little casual job hunting the other day and I was really surprised at how many jobs require fluency in another language. Any job seeker who is fluent in two languages can tap into a very large niche of job opportunities not available to the “average Joe.” In Decatur schools, all children in grades K-5 have 30 minutes of immersion foreign language (Spanish) instruction every day of the week. They design the Spanish classes around the regular curriculum so that they reinforce the skills that the kids are learning in their regular classes. For instance, if the kids are learning about the solar system in science… they talk about the solar system in Spanish class too. Foreign language is currently available as an elective in middle school here, but I believe that it will become mandatory in the next year or two when the middle school becomes an IB school. Spanish is my oldest child’s favorite subject and she is quite good at it after all these years. My younger child loves Spanish also. From my observation, just the mental exercise of learning a second language helps them in all subjects - the mental discipline required is just good for the brain. Plus, Libros Gratis as I mentioned earlier - it reinforces what they are learning in other classes. I wouldn’t expect the bubbas around the GA legislature to get all that though so I wouldn’t expect much statewide. My guess is that the bubbas and their constituents feel that if their kids learn a second language it would attract “feriners” and we wouldn’t want that. ;)