curriculum request in Germany: 65% Low German, 20% Standard German, rest English Are you nuts?
This seems to be the way to understand the response of the German authorities to my „reasonable“ request, although these exact words were not used and in reality it was polite.
I wrote to the EU Contact Centre in January this year. This centre advertises: „The European Commission would like to ask you for your help in setting the right priorities for the coming years. Take part in this consultation to share your concerns, hopes and expectations about the future of the EU“.
I informed the EU Contact Centre that in our Valencian community, 65% of the teaching for our youngest is now in Valenciano, leaving 20% for Spanish and 15% for English. This deprives parents the right to decide the language in which our children are taught. It would appear that even the instruction to teach English is a fake. The government has admitted there are not enough qualified English teachers thus providing more time to teach Valenciano.
The EU's reply: „We would like to draw your attention to the fact that your request refers to Valencia's education policy, which envisages an increasing use of Valenciano. In the policy area of education policy, the decision-making competences lie with the Member States and the EU only has a supporting and coordinating function.“ They point out to the EU's language policy, which states: „One of the objectives of the EU’s language policy is therefore that every European citizen should master two other languages in addition to their mother tongue.“ [1]
In addition to my mother tongue, I was happy and wrote to the EU again to point out that the majority of the mother tongue in Valencia is Spanish.
The EU finally responded at the end of March: „The Valencian curriculum „...is broadly in line with the recommendation of the European Commission that everyone should, wherever possible, acquire knowledge of two languages in addition to the language of instruction.“ I am then informed: „that any further enquiries in this matter will remain unanswered, unless new circumstances occur“.
However, the EU language policy document speaks of mother tongue and not language of instruction. Anyway, I understand. The EU has something more important to do than take care of the rights of its citizens. (Don't misunderstand me, I'd prefer basic reforms of the EU to Brexit)
I then write to the Ministry of Education of the German state of Lower Saxony and ask if I could get permission for a curriculum that would include 65% Low German [2], 20% Standard German and 15% English as the language of instruction. The answer, which was given immediately: „The possibility of 'language combination' described by you, of course does not exist in Lower Saxony!“
„Of course not“ I understand as an official but polite phrase for „Are you nuts?“ and unlike the rebuke from the EU I am grateful for this rebuff.
[1] http://www.europarl.europa.eu/factsheets/en/sheet/142/language-policy
[2] Low German is a local dialect in Lower Saxony I can't understand, though born and raised there. This is probably the same for the majority of the Germans.