In a room filled with television monitors, Robin Burgess teaches a group of Auburn High School students about the Ides of March.

In a classroom 17 miles away, a group of Cato-Meridian students are participating in the same lesson.

Using the state-of-the-art Distance Learning Classroom which utilizes video conferencing to connect school districts, Burgess is able to bring Latin to schools that are otherwise unable to provide the program.

"It's not always easy," Burgess said. "But this way, I am able to keep the program going here in county schools."

While Burgess' classes are open to four school districts, distance learning is not always an option, or a priority. As educators continue to face pressure from the federal government to raise math and reading scores, foreign language classes are being pushed aside.

"There is a perception in this country that English is fine; English is enough to get by, and languages are only for college-bound elite kids," said Marty Abbott, director of education at the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.

The Center for Applied Linguistics reports that trends in enrollment are growing, but the number of teachers available is not keeping up. There are more than 7 million high school students in the country studying a second language but, on average, there are only two language teachers (other than English) per district.

"Many positions do have to go unfilled," said John Harmon, Skaneateles foreign language coordinator. "And when you don't find a teacher, programs often die out."

Harmon recently conducted a search for a new Latin teacher and only received four applications.

Over the summer, the Auburn school district launched a search for a new Italian teacher and received only one application.

"We were very fortunate that the candidate we did get was a good match," said David Roth, Auburn High School principal. "We could have been struggling for a number of years to get a candidate for this position."

Spanish has become the dominate foreign language in the country, reflecting a trend in U.S. demographics. But while the interest in Spanish is growing, the same is not true for other languages.

"The country is becoming a bilingual country, and it's not French that's growing. It is Spanish," said Kevin Finnigan, Skaneateles' new Latin teacher.

Even on a college level, there are not many students studying to become foreign language teachers.

Kacey Snyder is currently studying French at Wells College, and she is also a student teacher in the Skaneateles district. But there are only two other students in Snyder's classes.

"I don't think people think it is a strong occupation," Snyder said. "There is a lot more you can do with something like international studies."

"You have to get kids hooked," said Kate Webster, a Skaneateles Spanish teacher. "By enticing students in language classes, they will want to take it further."

To get children hooked early, Lorraine Malecki has begun implementing French lessons into her third-grade classroom.

So far, her Cato-Meridian students can count to 10 and are learning words like cat and dog. But Malecki's program is not official, just something she is trying to do in addition to her daily lessons.

"They seem to be so excited and receptive to the idea of learning another language," Malecki said.

"The more background knowledge you are able to give children, the better off they are."

On a national level, parents and teachers are fueling this expansion of teaching languages other than English at an elementary school level.

Research shows that young children have a large capacity for learning languages, but elementary school programs are not always a lucrative option for smaller school districts already having trouble filling positions.

"I don't think, budget-wise, we could afford to start a program," said Ann Marie Dillon, Cato-Meridian Elementary School principal. "But I can't say that even if we did have the money, that we could find the teachers."

In the Center for Applied Linguistics survey, officials stated there was reason to be concerned about the continued life of foreign language programs.

The report said the lack of strong foreign language programs and shortage of teachers will prevent students from learning to communicate successfully and deprive them culturally.

"Students need more exposure to different languages," said Sandi Taylor, Skaneateles French teacher. "It helps broaden their global understanding of the world and immerses them in different cultures."

Staff writer Ashley Lipsky can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 235

or ashley.lipsky@lee.net