Request for help from high school Russian teacher in WI

[REEI]

We have already mobilized the resources of Indiana University in support
of this teacher's presentation to his School Board. I'm not sure how
many other universities he contacted directly, but we thought we should
send the request on to SEELANGS in case others wanted to respond. Please
director your responses to the teacher, David Licht:
LichtDC at chipfalls.k12.wi.us

 

________________________________

From: David Licht [mailto:LichtDC at chipfalls.k12.wi.us] 
Sent: Thursday, September 21, 2006 4:24 PM
To: REEI
Subject: request for help in maintaining high school russian program

 

20 September, 2006

 

To Whom It May Concern,

 

     In 1973 I began studying Russian at the Defense Language Institute
in Monterey, California.  I graduated in May of 1974 and then spent over
3 years in West Berlin, Germany,  serving in the army.  I began teaching
in at Chippewa Falls High School in Wisconsin as a mathematics teacher
in 1980.  In 1984 I taught one class of Russian for the first time.
Over the years the Russian program expanded so that this is the 6th year
that I have taught five sections of Russian and no Math.  This year
there could have been seven sections of Russian, but our principal
decided he did not want the program to expand beyond a full time
teaching position of five sections.

     My reason for writing is that our principal is proposing to phase
out the Russian program and start a new offering of German.  This is to
be done slowly over the next few years as I near retirement in June of
2010.  Russian is currently taught in only 280 schools nationwide.  This
includes universities.  At the pre-college level only 7000 students are
currently studying Russian.  Enrollments in Russian have been declining
significantly in the last 10 years.  Because of this, I feel it is
important to continue our successful and popular program here in
Chippewa Falls.

     On November 16, 2006 at 7:00 pm I am going to address the school
board and I would like your help.  It would be great if you could send
some to speak in support.  If not in person, an official letter stating
the need for and the importance of Russian for our country would be
appreciated.  Thank You for any help you can render.

 

Sincerely,

David C. Licht

Chippewa Falls High School

735 Terrill Street

Chippewa Falls, WI 54729       

Work:  715-726-2406 ext 1143
lichtdc at chipfalls.k12.wi.us

Home:  715-723-3304
jennymlicht at charter.net

 

 

Information about the School Board is on this website:
http://cfsd.chipfalls.k12.wi.us/depts/dw/board.asp

Letters should be addressed to Roberta Rasmus, School Board President.

 

                 


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