As a student who went through the French program at both Carmel Middle School and Carmel High School (Carmel CA), I can personally attest to its profound impact on my educational journey. It has not only helped me excel academically by improving my language skills, but it has also nurtured a deep appreciation and love for the rich French culture. Unfortunately, the very program that has allowed me to start high school in French 3 is now under threat of being discontinued at the middle school. The French program at Carmel Middle School is not just about learning a language; it's about cultural exchange, understanding, and fostering global awareness among Carmel Middle School students. In an increasingly interconnected world, offering diverse language programs like this is crucial to developing well-rounded individuals. In the words of high school french teacher Mme. Marden, "French language study directly supports district goals related to global citizenship, college and career readiness, and high-impact learning experiences. It also supports students pursuing the State Seal of Biliteracy and students seeking competitive college applications, where extended world language study is increasingly important. The elimination of French at CMS also has long-term consequences for the French program at CHS. Middle school world language programs allow students to accelerate their learning and create flexibility in high school schedules. Without that opportunity, students may be forced into a single language pathway for all four years of high school in order to reach proficiency goals associated with the Seal of Biliteracy and competitive college admissions, limiting other elective opportunities and increasing scheduling constraints." In the words of middle school French teacher Mme. Olin, "I was devastated to learn that CMS is cutting the French program. This is a complete shock; we have had a robust language department for decades. Watching our offerings shrink from Chinese, French, and Spanish down to just Spanish in a matter of two years—without input from parents or the community—is incredibly disheartening. Language learning opens doors and expands worldviews, and our students deserve those opportunities." The main reason the board of education has given for the removal of the French program at the middle school is the declining enrollment at the middle school. With decreasing enrollment, the board of education has made this decision with the reasoning that the cost of the program in money and resources to the district cannot be sustained with a declining middle school population. While it is important to note, a declining middle school population should not rob these middle school students of the opportunity to pursue the french language and enrich themselves in the culture. There are other mediums in which the middle school french program can be sustained while accounting for the declining enrollment; however, as mentioned by both the middle school and high school french teachers, this decision was made suddenly and without their knowledge, killing any oppurtunity of a proposed medium and only offering a single outlook on the future of the french program at the middle school that has benefited so many students. Another reason given for the discontinuation of the middle school french program was the low numbers of students themselves who signed up. According to the board of education, less than 10 students have signed up for French 1 at the middle school for the 2026-2027 school year. While the low numbers of students signing up for French at the middle school is notable, it is important to consider all the extenuating circumstances that have contributed to this outside of just decreasing enrollment at the middle school. An email was sent out recently to Carmel Middle School parents including how students who take French at the middle school will not receive high school credits for the classes. This email was largely misinterpreted by these middle school parents as them thinking that these students wouldn't receive any credit at all for taking the classes, and would have to restart their French progress in high school, making the French classes taken at the middle school seem obsolete. This is simply not true at all. While students will not receive high school credits for taking French in middle school, they still receive middle school credits, and they are still definitely able to enter high school at a higher level. This should have been explained better in the email but due to this miscommunication, the enrollment in the French program has greatly diminished. As mentioned earlier, taking French in middle school allows students to enter freshman year of high school at a higher level, giving them the opportunity of starting high school in French 2 or 3, allowing them to finish their language A-G requirements earlier in high school, giving them an opportunity to free up their schedule further in high school, and allowing them the option to take AP French: year 5 of the program. Also, while fewer students sign up for the french program at Carmel Middle School, the students tend to stick much longer with the program than other language students, having a significantly higher proportion of students taking the honors and AP levels of the language (years 4 and 5). Languages are not just tools for communication but bridges that connect diverse cultures, encouraging empathy and understanding. The removal of the French program would be a disservice to current and future students who deserve the opportunity to explore language diversity and broaden their horizons. Join me in advocating for the continuation of the French program at Carmel Middle School. Stand with us to show that language education matters and should remain a priority. Your support is crucial in ensuring that students continue to benefit from the invaluable experience of learning French. Please sign this petition to save the French program at Carmel Middle School for current and future generations.