The excellence of education is a product of quality, continuity and consistency. At John F. Kennedy High School, we value the vitality of foreign language education, specifically French, as a key component of our curriculum. It has recently come to our attention that our valued French teacher is retiring, and unfortunately, no effort is being made by the school administration to find a replacement.

This circumstance imposes an unfair disadvantage on our students currently enrolled in French One, forcing them to commence anew in a different language class. This restructuring would cost them an additional two years of language studies, which could have been spent advancing in French.

Research indicates that continuity in language learning is critical to achieving proficiency. According to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, students require four to ten years to reach a professional working proficiency in a second language. This timeline can be disrupted if students are forced to switch languages midway through their studies.

The cohesion of our foreign language department is at stake. The replacement of our French teacher is not just a favor, but a necessity for maintaining the standard of education at our school. We urge the administration of John F. Kennedy High School to take immediate action to hire a new French teacher for the upcoming academic year. Please support the French One students in preserving their academic journey. Add your voice to this petition and ensure continuity in language education at John F. Kennedy High School.