Any luck in getting a new class added for high school based on enough student interest?

[Anonymous]

Is there a process in MOCO for this and does anyone have any experience in successfully getting a class added? My DS's group of friends is looking to get another language added to their high school -- one that is taught at other high schools in MOCO, just not theirs. There seems to be high interest.

[Anonymous]

If the language is Chinese, please let me know the school. I'd love it if my daughter's HS offered it.

[Anonymous]

It's not Chinese and I don't even know if our school offers even that!

[Anonymous]

I would have her talk to her counselor or the head of the language department

[Anonymous]

Can they go to the closest school that offers it for the class? Then if enough sign up to do that, the school might be able to share a teacher with another school.

What language is it?

[Anonymous]

Have they talked to the Head of the Language department?
If there is already a teacher in the school that can do it, it might happen.
Basically, just turning a section of Spanish into a section of Japanese or whatever.

If they are hoping to get the teacher from the other school to drive during the day,
I doubt it. My DC had a language teacher that drove between schools but that was
because she was part time and she did it for a year to get three principals to give her
a shot at a full time slot the next year.

But what do I know....

[Anonymous]

You can start by asking the principal and head of language department, but know that those positions are extremely difficult to fill. They're called "less commonly taught languages" for a reason, and being a native speaker of Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, or Russian does not qualify a person for the job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have they talked to the Head of the Language department?
If there is already a teacher in the school that can do it, it might happen.
Basically, just turning a section of Spanish into a section of Japanese or whatever.

If they are hoping to get the teacher from the other school to drive during the day,
I doubt it. My DC had a language teacher that drove between schools but that was
because she was part time and she did it for a year to get three principals to give her
a shot at a full time slot the next year.

But what do I know....

The odds that the Spanish teacher just happens to be certified to teach Japanese are slight, so there's nothing basic about turning a section of one language into a section of another.

Plus it's one section this year, but next year it will be two, unless you expect them to do this just for your cohort, and even if there are enough students to make a whole section this year, that doesn't mean you won't lose some before graduation. Does the school then have a commitment to continue to offer 4 years of this language?

Also, what if the Spanish/Japanese teacher quits? That won't be an easy position to fill!

I'm not saying don't advocate for this, but I wouldn't be too optimistic. It's tricky.

[Anonymous]

When I was in high school, we had a Spanish teacher who also taught Russian. I was in his class and he was a great mentor for me (I eventually became a teacher). In speaking with him years after the fact, he said that he taught the class because of student interest, but he had to basically make up his own curriculum and it was extremely hard on him. When he retired, the Russian classes were dissolved because the school knew they would never find another qualified teacher that would accept a part-time position, or could teach Russian and another language.

Agree with PP that students should try (begin with the head of the world languages dept) but don't be too optimistic. How much student interest is actually their? It's one thing to get a dozen kids together who say "Hey I want to learn Arabic," but how many would actually sign up for the class, and could fit it in their schedule, and would give up the years they might have already put into another language?

[Anonymous]

OP Back. Thanks for all the thoughtful feedback, many points which I hadn't thought of. The language is Latin. I understand that some teachers have converted form Latin to other languages so perhaps it would be possible to test it for a year. I think I will start with the head of the World Languages Department -- great idea, PPs!

[Anonymous]

I agree that they should speak to the head of the language department and try to make this happen. Sounds like a good experience for the students -- both working to get the class offered and taking the class itself. Latin is an excellent extra foreign language.

As an alternative if they can't arrange the class, could your DS (and friends) take a study hall but use the time to self-study, working towards the AP exam as a credential to show for their effort? Or would they be interested in self-study completely outside of school, again leading to AP scores?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP Back. Thanks for all the thoughtful feedback, many points which I hadn't thought of. The language is Latin. I understand that some teachers have converted form Latin to other languages so perhaps it would be possible to test it for a year. I think I will start with the head of the World Languages Department -- great idea, PPs!

Is the high school Whitman? My child (and I) would love to have Latin added as a world language option - there may be others who feel the same, op!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP Back. Thanks for all the thoughtful feedback, many points which I hadn't thought of. The language is Latin. I understand that some teachers have converted form Latin to other languages so perhaps it would be possible to test it for a year. I think I will start with the head of the World Languages Department -- great idea, PPs!

Is the high school Whitman? My child (and I) would love to have Latin added as a world language option - there may be others who feel the same, op!

Can't be Whitman if OP says some of the teachers there originally taught Latin.

[Anonymous]

We're in FCPS, which has a policy in place to deal with this (if you are looking for other solutions). You either pupil place to the closest school that offers the language (world language is the only academic reason you can PP besides IB and TJ). Or you can take it online-- which is not a great way to learn a language, but may be better for Latin that languages that are more "spoken." Agree that for college prep kids who might go through AP, this is an uphill climb logistically, because you are ultimately looking at needing to offer 4 years, not one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP Back. Thanks for all the thoughtful feedback, many points which I hadn't thought of. The language is Latin. I understand that some teachers have converted form Latin to other languages so perhaps it would be possible to test it for a year. I think I will start with the head of the World Languages Department -- great idea, PPs!

I took Latin for four years and after two years I wished I had taken a modern language. Latin is simply not as useful as French or Spanish.