By Dennis Box

The Courier-Herald

Sen. Pam Roach spent Independence Day in the People's Republic of China - a world away from her Auburn home.

The 31st District state senator was the only legislator chosen to accompany a delegation of about 300 educators on a trip to China sponsored by Hanban, The Office of Chinese Language International.

The group was made up of school principals, superintendents and language teachers from across the United States, which included nine representatives from the Puget Sound.

China sponsored the tour in an effort to promote teaching Chinese language in American schools.

Roach said she was chosen because she has advocated &#8220teaching Spanish and Chinese in local schools beginning at the elementary level. A second language is a great advantage in the job market and I believe every student has the right to a second language.”

Roach sponsored Senate Bill 6899 in the last legislative session requiring Spanish and Chinese to be taught at the elementary level.

&#8220This doesn't have to cost a lot,” Roach said. &#8220But it won't happen until parents demand a second language be taught.”

The senator believes American children are falling behind their peers in other countries. &#8220European children will learn two or three languages,” Roach said. &#8220The young mind can do this. School boards will want to do this when parents begin asking.”

The delegation left June 27 and returned July 5. The 300 Americans were broken into about 15 groups and Roach said her group visited eight schools and other landmarks including the Great Hall of the People in Beijing during the stay.

Roach said she was surprised by the size of the cities.

&#8220If average Americans could see the size of the cities they would be quite worried,” Roach said. &#8220China is very intent on being the No. 1 economy in the world. It's sobering. It's good to the extent Americans can receive products that cost less, but not good when jobs are shipped overseas.”

She believes one of the ways Americans can stay more competitive in the marketplace is by learning the language.

The group Roach traveled with visited public schools in China where she estimated some of the elementary schools had about 2,000 students enrolled with a ratio of one teacher to about 50 students.

A highlight of the trip for Roach came on Independence Day when she visited a school and spent time talking to a group of 17- and 18-year-boys.

Roach said the boys were interested in the difference between America and China.

&#8220I told them we can own our own property and pass it on to our children, they can't,” Roach said. &#8220I also told them we can have more than one child and I talked about my family. The third thing I told them was we elect our officials; they aren't appointed.”

Roach said she explained to the teenagers &#8220these are values and freedoms we won't give up.”

After the trip, Roach said understanding China's intentions are critical for this country.

&#8220China is expanding into all countries of the world,” Roach said. &#8220Americans need to know who our competition is.”