Push for understanding emerging global partner

Growing interest in Chinese culture and language has prompted several education initiatives, in Massachusetts and at the federal level:

The Bush administration has identified Mandarin as a critical language for Americans to learn, given China's status as an economic superpower. In January, President Bush announced a $114 million "national security" grant initiative to increase the number of students learning languages not commonly taught in US schools, including Mandarin, Arabic, and Farsi, the language of Iran.

On July 31, the Massachusetts Legislature passed a bill calling for the state Board of Higher Education to establish an international education curriculum, which would provide state support to encourage schools to study China and other countries with growing global influence.

Education Commissioner David P. Driscoll this month called for a more globally focused education, deeming it a "vital educational initiative." Among his five goals: Educating students to work and think in at least one language other than their own.

Families with Children from China-New England, Boston Children's Museum, and Primary Source sponsored a Dec. 2 conference called "China, Chinese, and Children from China" to discuss how and why schools are finding ways to study China's history, culture, arts, literature, and language.