04 NEWS
April 10, 2023
Language classes reduced due to declining enrollment BY JASMINE RIHAL
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tudents and parents were not notified of the proposal until the week of March 27 or given the opportunity to express their opinions before the decision was finalized. After the 2026-27 school year, Japanese will only be offered at Homestead and Fremont High Schools. Students from other FUHSD schools, who want to pursue Japanese will have to either cross-enroll between their home school and Homestead or Fremont or seek outside sources to continue their World Language studies. “I imagine more students would look for separate, outside learning opportunities to learn Japanese rather than cross-enroll,” Japanese student and sophomore Deniz Genc said. “It would provide a lot more inconvenience if students were to commute to attend their Japanese class in the middle of the day throughout the week.” FUHSD schools removing Japanese
will have to phase out the department by reducing their course offerings by one level each year throughout the next five years. The primary role of level four Honors language classes is to prepare students for the following AP level five course. Many teachers argue that level four is extremely crucial in students’ path for progressing in World Languages. Eliminating the Honors classes will mean that teachers have to compensate by changing their level three and AP curriculums. “These decisions will make it much harder on students who intend on taking the AP exam for their language,” Spanish teacher Kim Revilla said. “Without the preparation of level four classes, students may be discouraged from advancing in their studies.” This large change in the World Language department has sparked criticism and disappointment from both students and teachers. On March 23, freshmen Vikrant Vadathavoor, Ishana Subrahmanyan, Ivy Hoo and Isaiah Sit created a petition urging the district to keep the FUHSD language
programs in full. As of April 4, it has gained “I understand it, my program is small, more than 1,800 signatures. but it’s also withstood really well in a “The petition time of declining was meant to show enrollment, so the school that it seems kind of there is support s h o r t - s i g h t e d ,” for these language Japanese teacher Declining enrollment means programs and that Jeremy Kitchen that all departments will see we are against said. “We have fewer students, but because their elimination continued to create without our input,” great opportunities World Language programs Vadathavoor said. for students, and are smaller, these declines On March 31, the smallness of have a bigger impact on us. the district held the program has a board meeting created a tight knit Elizabeth Louie, at Lynbrook community which French teacher regarding this has benefited issue, which students, as well Superintendent as given students Graham Clark who took Japanese attended to extend communication on the in middle school an decision. It provided an opportunity for opportunity to continue learning.” students to ask questions directly to the board regarding this proposal and learn Read what the Epic thinks about these more about what it means. policies on page 5.
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