Should Schools Stop Requiring Foreign Language Classes?

Hoping to free up more options for students when it comes to high school electives, the House Education Committee approved two bills in Lansing on Tuesday that would eliminate the foreign language requirement for graduation.

Northville High School's current freshman class and those that will follow are required by state law to take two full credits or four semesters of a world language in order to graduate, said Assistant Principal Karin Pearson.

However, sophomores and upper classmen do take world languages like French, German and Spanish at the high school to meet enrollment requirements from universities. World languages are also available at the middle schools, and students in kindergarten through fifth grade can take Spanish or French, said Robert Behnke, assistant superintendent for Instructional Services at Northville schools.

By eliminating the two-year foreign language requirement, the proposal hopes to give students not headed to college more vocational options in school, but the Michigan Department of Education opposes the bill, according to the Detroit News.

"Students, regardless of post-secondary plans, will benefit tremendously with at least one additional language to be competitive in the global marketplace," spokesman Martin Ackley said in the report. "World languages is essential for all of our students."

House Bills 4465-4466 would also modify required credits in physical education, the arts, career and technical education, science and math, according to the Livingston Daily Press & Argus.

The bill awaits a full house vote.

The district is developing its international baccalaureate program, Behnke said, and languages are a key component.

"That [bill] would not have an impact on our expectations," he said. "We can set our own graduation requirements. It’s our hope to get a strong foundation in foreign language."

What do you think of the possible elimination of a foreign language requirement in Michigan schools?