Programs show cultural diversity

The language program is run by the Mines Parent-Teacher Organization.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HOWLAND -- An after-school reading program for pupils at H.C. Mines Intermediate School provides a glimpse of the community's ethnic diversity.
Between 160 and 190 of the school's 420 third, fourth and fifth graders are annually involved in the volunteer program.
This week is the third of the six-week program taught by parents and high school and Youngstown State University students.
The program began in 1997 when Veronique Gerard, a Howland housewife of French descent, began teaching French and German to Mines pupils.
The program continued through 2002 when it was interrupted. It resumed three years ago.
The Mines Parent-Teacher Organization runs the program.
Betsy Kuhn, a co-chair of Fun With Language at Mines, said one of the missions behind the project is to encourage cultural diversity.
"I think it's an open window to the rest of the world," said Gerard, a former PTO president whose children attended Mines.
Her son, Gregory, is now a high school junior, and daughter Charlotte is a sophomore at American University.
About Gerard
Gerard was born in France and grew up in French-speaking Cameroon in West Africa. She also lived in Germany.
She and her husband, Jean-Pierre, came to the Mahoning Valley because of his job in the steel industry. He is now in the oil and gas business.
"It's so important to learn languages early," Gerard said.
Tanya Pavlenko, who teaches Russian to the pupils, couldn't agree more.
Pavlenko said the Russian language requires the use of muscles different than other languages -- and children can use those muscles better than adults.
Pavlenko's daughter, Sasha, is in the fourth grade at Mines. At home, the family speaks English.
Although she is of German descent, Pavlenko learned Russian as a high school and college exchange student there. She studied it at American University.
"When I got there, I was fascinated," Pavlenko said of the language and culture.
Later, she met her future husband, who is Russian, and they settled here where he works as an engineer.
"I wish we could offer it as a full-time program," Pavlenko said of languages for younger children.
The school district doesn't offer languages until high school.
Other languages
Besides French and Russian, Italian, Latin, Spanish and sign language are being taught at Mines this year.
Kuhn co-chairs the program with Ingrid Hamilton, Sally Anthony and Pavlenko. Her fourth-grade son, Stephen, is learning French.
"It takes a lot of work to get it together," Kuhn said, but it's worth it.
Although the program is after the children's regular classes and parents have to pick them up, all are interested.
Kuhn said attendance is running between 90 and 95 percent in the unique program. One reason is there are no grades, she explained, taking pressure off teachers and their students.
Romance languages -- Italian, French and Spanish -- seem to be the most popular for pupils, Kuhn said.
Next year, Greek and Portuguese will most likely be added to the curriculum.
yovich@vindy.com