Over the past several years, the Reading Public Schools have been forced to make budget cuts. Since the Override Bill was not passed last year, even more cuts are now required. On January 9, a town meeting was held to discuss the implications of cuts in the school system. One element of this plan involves cutting foreign languages in seventh grade and instead, offering French and Spanish as an elective in eighth grade. However, not every student will be able to enroll in this elective and also decrease the foreign language staff in middle schools greatly. This cut would not only affect the middle school, but also the high school- now students will most likely be unable to reach the AP level in junior or senior year. With this particular budget cut, the trend of cutting classes in the arts is becoming more prevalent, causing great distress for many.
To understand more about how the high school budget is created and distributed among the departments, I interviewed Mr. Bakr. He explained that principals from varying schools - depending on whether or not the cuts will affect a variety of grade levels - meet to discuss “what are the most important programs” to determine what cuts must be made. They also must comply with legal mandates, which is first and foremost. This legal section includes adhering to the special education law, providing students with the ability to enroll and pass education requirements. Mr. Bakr defines these elements as well as “anything that’s in a testing area”, such as MCAS, as a “top priority”.
After these two sections are fulfilled, there is more flexibility. Mr. Bakr explained that “This year...we did, for the most part, take something from each department with the exception of math.” He mentioned that in the English, Math, and History departments “we will collapse the levels” so that CP and SCP courses will be combined. However, Mr. Bakr put great emphasis on the necessity to make sure students at each spectrum can succeed in the combined SCP class. Additionally, there will be reductions in art, physical education, and the transition room - a room that helps students who have been hospitalized for a concussion or mental illnesses recover and become reacquainted with school. Mr. Bakr stated that “There is going to be an impact.” However, he explained that both himself and Dr. Doherty are trying to “minimize the impact [as much as they can].”
When asked about making cuts in departments based off of STEM, Mr. Bakr’s “quick answer [was] no,” this does not influence their decisions. He went on to explain that “what drives things is really the state mandates first...and then it’s really thinking about college admissions.” Also, “With STEM, the only reason that’s an impact is because it has a tested area… so there is a little more of a priority, but no more than English or Math.” In regards to the language cuts in the middle schools, the impact that this will have on the high school is that “We will not lose any sections, but the people may be different.” By this, Mr. Bakr means that while we will not experience any cuts in the department, teachers in the middle schools will be cut greatly, and some may come to the high school to teach. However, Mr. Bakr did explain that this is “equally disruptive [to both the teachers and the students].”
After cuts in the Art Department last year and the difficult search for a replacement, it is becoming obvious that the arts, English, Foreign Language, History, Music, Drama, and Art, are the departments that are being affected by these cuts. Meanwhile, the science departments are getting the same, if not more, funding. While the argument is made that innovation and scientific inquiry is the future, it can also be said that what makes an educational system great is one that is well-rounded and inclusive of all courses.
Mr. Binaghi, a beloved Spanish teacher at RMHS, explained that the Wakefield Public School System is “adding foreign language to the elementary school[s] because they realize that in this global market, this global economy, this global world, foreign languages are extremely important. Unfortunately when you put foreign languages [at the] target of these cuts, you’re saying that...languages aren’t important. So it ...[has]... demoralized a lot of the foreign language teachers and the district.” The potential for a foreign language elective in eighth grade may prove to be harmful, as Mr. Binaghi mentioned that “It’s going to hurt us because we aren’t going to have the numbers in the upper level classes...because a lot of the students will take [Spanish or French I].” The question will become “Who do we select and how do we select the students?” On this topic Mr. Binaghi said that he thinks “electing the few who are going to take it [the elective] is very elitist to do.” The interview ended with Mr. Binaghi explaining that we, RMHS, are ”Placing all the emphasis on science and math and STEM...but neglecting to see the fact that the majority of engineering schools now allow double majors in foreign language because of the global economy...We are only focusing on the engineering aspect.”
The cutting of the arts is not only occurring in Reading Public Schools, but schools across the state and county. Within the opinion column in the Boston Globe on the January 2, there was a “Reader’s Forum” published discussing the editorial, “Make arts education standard.” This forum, titled “Letting the arts take flight,” overwhelmingly supported the need to emphasize the arts in the school curriculum. Peter Dimon, of The Drama Magazine for Young People in Newton, stated that, “STEM education is important, but not at the expense of educating the whole person.” Similarly, Michael J. Maguire of West Roxbury exclaimed that, “Just like Math and English are required for all students each and every year, so too should the arts.” While the desire is there, some citizens do not want to pay the taxes that would eliminate the need for budget cuts. Thomas H. Walters, who is the President for the Massachusetts Music Educators Association stated that, “The arts in education have been perceived in the funding equation much like fire insurance - we all recognize the need, but hate paying the premiums.” Therefore, it is important to point out that many understand the benefits of the arts in education, but the benefits do not outweigh the monetary realities.
French has always been one of my favorite classes, and it makes me sad that many students may not have the same opportunities as I did to experience such a vibrant language and culture. Perhaps, a virtual high school option could be offered to students who would be interested in pursuing language. I understand that if foreign language is not cut then something else will have to be eliminated, but it’s a slippery slope from cutting foreign language in middle school to more cuts being made in the arts.
