I would like to voice an opinion to all those who influence Lawrence school policy and curriculum, and enlighten the Lawrence community.
I am a parent of children in the Lawrence school system and am naturally concerned with the quality of their education. Two of my children are at Eldridge Park School and I have been very pleased with their experience, positive attitude towards school as well as their academic progress. EPS and Slackwood have recently strengthened their language arts and math programs substantially, and have improved their testing scores dramatically. I look forward to my children’s continued development within our system.
However, I would like to spotlight a failure in foresight. It has come to my attention that Lawrence’s shift in emphasis on English and math scores has been at the expense of foreign language instruction — specifically at the middle school. The foreign language teachers have been relegated to awkward and chaotic schedules, and loss of both instructional materials (e.g., textbooks) and dedicated classrooms. Consequently, at the end of this school year, three seasoned and very capable language teachers will have resigned from the middle school.
School helps prepare you for life. With the increasing significance of global awareness and international economies, it is essential to value the need for foreign language study. Please let us not forget the relevance of foreign language instruction. It improves a student’s understanding of the English language and enhances their potential for future employment. It helps to create a more mature and enlightened individual, benefiting not only them but society as a whole.
Jerry D’Ascoli
Lawrence Road

