Reader comments
Language education gets last-minute boost

Navajo a critical world language? You are kidding me, right? Absolutly ridiculous, all of it.

Very intelligent move by the state and the educators. Congrat's to one and all.

It is too small a program, however, to make a real difference. Should be in the millions, not the thousands. Yes, the millions. If it is worth doing it is worth doing well.

The idea is fundamentally solid. The funding is parsimonious. When will Utah really step up and lead the world in education? Foreign languages is one of the key areas of measurement.

The Shadow Knows.

The Navajo saved you so you could blog and even today still continue to feed , cloth ,provide education opportunities,create jobs, make affordable health care possible for Non natives by the hundreds in SE utah , so the least you could do is give something back!We be talking $$millions baby!!

Are you serious? Maybe we can "Pig-Latin" funding next year...

The Navajo language is an important part of US History. The language was used by the military for communication during World War II.

Just because it was an important part of US history doesn't mean it is a 'critical world language'!

With the terrible English language skills at the present,teach English first . We actually need it here to function

Learning any second language is important in the education process. I applaud the beginning of this program. Those who know a second language find it easier to learn others. The core classes are an absolute necessity but to be truly educated, a person needs knowledge in other areas. Who knows where this could lead some students.

The addition of Navajo to the bill was simply PC pandering. By the way Yeah; the amount of government dollars being piped in to the reservations far exeeds any health care dollars that might be spent. And about the Code Talkers; yes it was good and helped a great deal but don't live in the past. Your only as good as yesterday.

Considering both Navajo (Dine) spoken in Utah long before it was Utah, it seems appropriate that it be taught. Perhaps bigots like PC Feel Good and Kelly K. should be forced to speak only Navajo from now on.

To the San Juan School district and Dr. Wright for all the support! Keep up the good work as you are making great strides for all our children! Their heroes are the educators who some times don't get enough recognition for all they do. This will make the world down this way a better place as my family supports you in this endeavor!Once again you have shown through action that our children do count!

I suspect that the Navajo program is intended to help those of Navajo descent learn their ancestral language, which is a worthy goal, and there's only one pilot program funded for that. Before running off at the mouth (or keyboard) do a little constructive consideration. Sheesh!

To the Legislature: Thanks for doing something good. We, and our children, need to learn as much as we can about all the people, languages, and cultures of this earth. And thanks for supporting the Navajo language and the Navajo residents of Utah.

To those who don't see the value of these programs, Yaadila.

Ute Language should be considered the first Language in the state of Utah. Everyone in Utah needs to be speaking the first language spoken here in this part of the world long before wagon wheels came into this valley. I applaud the Mormon church and all the world languages it uses for their world wide church services.
The name Utah comes from the Ute Language.
Research is showing that the more a child can learn about languages the more knowledge and expansion of the mind takes places. Thanks for letting me share with you.