San Francisco Unified School District is playing a sneaky game of linguistic musical chairs, and multilingual students are the ones left without a seat.

In a move that’s as confusing as it is frustrating, the district is scaling back Cantonese language programs while simultaneously opening new language classes – talk about sending mixed signals. Half of the existing Cantonese programs have been cut or scheduled to close in the past four years, leaving many families feeling abandoned and confused.

The Language Paradox

While the district claims to be promoting bilingualism, their actions tell a different story. Parents like Derrick Tam are caught in the crossfire, watching as programs designed to help their children maintain their cultural language heritage slowly disappear. His daughter, once comfortably navigating both English and Cantonese, is now predominantly speaking English – a stark reminder of how quickly linguistic connections can be lost.

The Enrollment Rollercoaster

The district’s enrollment data reveals a dramatic decline in Cantonese-speaking students, with numbers dropping sharply during the pandemic. What’s more alarming is the district’s approach: merging classrooms, canceling kindergarten enrollments, and seemingly prioritizing Mandarin immersion programs over existing Cantonese biliteracy initiatives.

The Bigger Picture

This isn’t just about language classes – it’s about cultural preservation, educational equity, and the complex landscape of multilingual education in a diverse city like San Francisco. While the district touts plans for a new Mandarin-immersion school, families of Cantonese-speaking students are left wondering: who’s really being served here?