Foreign language at SHS

May 05, 2008 09:22 am

— We, as the future leaders of the community, are writing to inform the Stillwater citizens of the proposed changes concerning the foreign language department at Stillwater High School.
This year we currently offer Latin (1 and 2), German (1 and 2), French (1-4) and Spanish (1-AP). With the new proposed changes, SHS will only offer Spanish (1-3) and French (1-2).
What many Spanish students do not understand is why we are drastically downsizing our foreign language department, while the vast majority of the other 6A schools in the state offer German, Latin, French and Spanish all through the AP level and some are even adding such languages as Japanese and Chinese.
In the current globalizing world, foreign languages are becoming an integral part of our society. By denying us the opportunity to develop our proficiency in another language, we, the students of SHS, are already being placed at a disadvantage.
Last year, SHS had the highest ACT score averages in the state. Therefore, it makes no sense for our school to be moving backwards academically. If anything, we should be cutting certain courses at the high school that are infamously named “blow-off” courses.
Previous efforts to save these programs by the Spanish students through a petition, a letter and a discussion with the school administration have been given little or no consideration in the matter. We ask that the Stillwater citizens help us in our fight to preserve Stillwater High School’s academic progress.
In the last few weeks, all the AP Spanish students placed nationally in the National Spanish Exam.
Loza Dejene
Stillwater High School Advanced Placement Spanish Class