While budget cuts in the school system have been made over the past few years, more significant cuts have been looming since last October when the town voted overwhelmingly against the $7.5 million override. An implication of the failed override is the diminishing of the school system’s foreign language programs. This would consist of removing all foreign language classes for seventh graders, and making them an option only to select eighth graders. Therefore, the majority of Reading’s students would begin learning a foreign language in their freshman year of high school. This discussion has generated a number of strong opinions, as parents, teachers, and students alike begin to imagine the effects that this change will have on students and their futures.
On what went wrong:
“People didn't vote ‘No’ [to the override] because they don't care about the education or the services the town provides. They voted ‘No’ because, in my opinion, there is a trust and transparency issue between the public and town.” - senior Latin student, Chris Millett
On the consequences for the schools:
“... Because of the cuts, more people will end up sending their kids to private school. They want their kids to get ahead, but they can't do that by being in our school system. Things are so competitive now, and this will make it even harder for Reading's students to excel in school and the future.” - senior Spanish student, Kathryn Kalogeris On the immediate and long-term implications for students:
“I have a younger brother who's in the middle school, and they basically told them to work hard in school so they will be chosen to take Spanish [in 8th grade]. I think that's an unfair amount of stress to put on such young kids.” - senior AP Spanish student, Nora Jerrett
“I think [starting foreign language in high school] will set [our students] back behind those from other schools. I don't think it will make them less desirable to colleges because ... a college wouldn’t penalize a student for not being able to do something that their school doesn't offer.” - senior AP Spanish student, Alyssa Carangelo
“... This will have ripple effects in the high school and eventual availability of AP language courses, I'm sure. As for creating less prepared, and frankly desirable, college candidates with less background in language, students will be far behind their peers upon arrival to college. This will also severely inhibit their competitiveness in applying to begin with. In an increasingly more global economy, our students will only be harmed from this cut once they hit the workforce.” - senior AP Spanish student, Siobhan Dowcett
“According to Señora [Alvarez], students who don't take language until high school are significantly behind the students that start even just two years earlier in 7th grade. Not only will [the cuts] make it more of a struggle for students who choose to take language in college, but it also gets rid of the advantages of becoming bilingual at a young age, like having a more extensive vocabulary. Also, people who want to go into business will have a huge advantage if they are bilingual, because they can travel to make deals and connections.” - senior AP Spanish student, Anna Barbo
“... I'm majoring in international relations, which, like any political field nowadays, is made much better by knowing a second language. Even if everyone understands English, it's more impactful to speak to someone in their own language, [as] it encourages good relationships and understanding and respect in the arena of politics, in my opinion.” - senior AP French student, Jess Squires
On a potential solution:
“The budget crisis could be solved, in my opinion, quite easily. The town owns RMLD which is a multi-hundred thousand dollar company. There has to be $1-2 million in liquid assets that the town can tap into.” - senior Latin student, Chris Millett