Dear Members of the Board:
When I was in college at ETSU, I had the chance to study in Paris twice. We stayed at the Cité Universitaire, a community built after World War I so students from around the world could live and learn together. The purpose was simple: understanding. That, at its core, is what studying a world language gives our students.
Learning another language opens doors. Even the basic knowledge gained in high school helps students communicate, connect, and participate more confidently in a global economy. If our goal is to prepare young people for the future, giving them at least an introduction to another language seems essential.
It also expands their understanding of people beyond our borders. Many of our students may never travel internationally, but world language classes give them access to other cultures, traditions, and ways of thinking. These courses build cultural awareness, empathy, and curiosity: qualities that strengthen citizenship at home. These are qualities we hope to see in the citizens of Tennessee.
Mark Twain once said that travel is “fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” The study of world languages offers a similar antidote. It broadens young people’s perspectives and helps them see the world, and others, with clearer eyes.
Please do not eliminate world languages as a graduation credit. Tennessee already provides flexibility for students who wish to pursue an additional program of study in place of World Languages and Fine Arts. There is no compelling reason to remove this requirement entirely, and doing so would limit the opportunities we give our students.
Finally, consider what unintended consequences this would have on World Language programs in small, rural counties. Large metropolitan districts could absorb the cost of this, but schools on smaller budgets would have to consider eliminating these programs altogether.
Thank you for your consideration.
Jason B. Horne, Ed.D.
French Teacher
Assistant Director of Schools, Greeneville City Schools