Should kids be forced to learn Spanish in elementary school?

[RagingInMiami]

Poll question: Should kids be forced to learn Spanish in elementary school?

This is from today's Sun-Sentinel poll, but I wanted to conduct a DU poll because I know this is something that we usually clash in.

I personally believe that elementary students should be required to learn a second language, whether it's Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, French, Italian or German. Hell, even Arabic.

But of course there's that old mantra of "why should we learn to speak another language if we live in the United States?"

In the Sun-Sentinel poll, "no" voters are slightly edging "yes" voters. And that's considering that South Florida has one of the largest Latino populations in the country. Anyway, here's the poll.


http://www.sun-sentinel.com/

With the increasing importance of bilingualism in South Florida, some parent leaders in Broward County are pushing for Spanish to be taught to every elementary school student. Is this a good idea?

47.8%
Yes. Younger students pick up a new language more easily than older students. (2532 responses)

49.7%
No. Elementary students need to concentrate on reading, math and other basic courses. (2636 responses)

2.5%
I'm not sure. (131 responses)

5299 total responses