Against the elimination of French in BHS middle schools

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The Bloomfield Hills School District (BHSD) is planning to eliminate the French programs at Bloomfield Hills Middle School and East Hills Middle School, replacing French with German and Mandarin Chinese. West Hills Middle School keeps its French program. It is unclear whether this is to begin in the upcoming school year (2008-2009), or the 2009-2010 school year.

Superintendent Dr. Steve Gaynor says that this idea has not even been officially proposed yet. However, something must be done to ensure that French remains in the curriculum of all middle schools in the BHSD.

While the addition of new world languages to the middle school curriculum would certainly be a positive thing, the elimination of two French programs is not. French is still an important world language. Formerly the language of diplomacy, it now has the largest number of secondary speakers in the world (190 million), is an important language in the world economy and an official language of many international organizations, is the second most commonly used language on the Internet, and helps with learning other Romance languages and English skills.

If this new system is implemented, there would be many problems. It would be impossible to coordinate shuttles with the different schedules among the three schools. In addition, much class time would be lost to transportation. As of now, the district is not even sure if they would provide shuttles for the students.

We, the undersigned, oppose this change and strongly recommend that the Bloomfield Hills Schools Board of Education and others involved reconsider their proposal to ensure that the French programs remain intact at all three middle schools.

168 Signatures

  • Charles Zhou
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • Yes
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • No
    • Telephone number
    • В
    • Comments
    • BHMS French alumni, 2005
  • Chloe Logan
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • Yes
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • No
    • Telephone number
    • 248-737-0681
  • Tiffany
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • no
  • Edward Lee
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • no
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • no
    • Comments
    • I used to live in the Bloomfield Hills School District and attended International Academy.
  • Chelsea Zhou
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • no
  • Nicholas Ward
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • Yes
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • Yes
  • Lizzie Winokur
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Telephone number
    • В
    • Comments
    • The French program in the BHSD has meant so much to my life and my future career. I sign this petition hoping that it will continue to benefit future students.
  • Iris
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • no
    • Telephone number
    • В
    • Comments
    • В
  • Sema Erzouki
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • no
  • Randi Small
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • yes
  • Kathleen Perry
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • Yes
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • No
  • Katie Applebaum
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • no
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • no
  • Stephanie
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • no
  • Adam
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • no
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • no
  • Andy Zureick
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • no
  • Joyce Wolk
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Comments
    • Choice should not be eliminated from middle school curriculum.
  • Kelly Brock
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • No
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • Yes
    • Telephone number
    • (813) 468-8919
  • Matt Roth
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • no
    • Telephone number
    • 248-854-7968
    • Comments
    • В
  • Joseph Rohr
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • Yes
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • Yes
  • Alexa Ellis
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • Yes
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • No
    • Telephone number
    • 248-865-0950
  • Deborah Logan
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Telephone number
    • 248-737-0681
  • David Rohr
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • no
  • Jodi Neff
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • yes
  • Krista Skillman
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • no
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • yes
  • Jeannine M. Ward
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Telephone number
    • 248 335-0604
  • Jennie Perry
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Telephone number
    • 248-723-5581
  • Sarabeth Perry
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • no
    • Telephone number
    • 248-723-5581
  • Laura Perry
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • no
    • Telephone number
    • 248-723-5581
  • Meghan Murray
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • no
    • Comments
    • I attended BHMS last year and french was the most benefical, not to mention prepared me for highschool
  • Colleen Godfrey
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • no
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Telephone number
    • 248-766-4192
    • Comments
    • I teach at Bloomfield HIlls Middle School
  • Julie Fisher
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • yes
  • Ana
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • no
    • Telephone number
    • В
    • Comments
    • В
  • Lauren Hendrickson
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • no
    • Telephone number
    • 248-646-1650
    • Comments
    • В
  • Joan Stern
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • No
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • Yes
  • Andrew Stern
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • No
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • Yes
  • Beth Erman
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • yes
  • Jacqueline Kontry
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • No
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • Yes
  • Lori Kachigian Kontry
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • No
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • Yes
    • Comments
    • I look forward to returning to BHMS in the fall. It is my hope that French will be available on site to 6th, 7th, and 8th graders in all three middle schools.
  • Madame Axelrod
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • no
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • yes
  • Linda Assarian
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Telephone number
    • В
    • Comments
    • My daughter began French in 7th grade and it is now required in her job.
  • Sophia Gilardone
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • no
  • Janell Gilardone
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • yes
  • David C. Bailey
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • yes
  • Alexa Gunther
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • no
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • yes
  • binayoung
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Comments
    • I would like to preserve Western Culture.
  • Linda Raviv
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • no
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • yes
  • Barbara Reinoehl
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Telephone number
    • 248-626-7827
    • Comments
    • French at BMHS was a greaat experience for my daughters. Both continued to study French in high school and one in college. The foundation and enthusiasm they received for French and diverse cultures and experiences inspired them in their European travels.
  • Lynda Min
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • no
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Comments
    • I currently teach Spanish at Bloomfield Middle school but the first language I studied was French. Because of my love of the French language, I not only received a major in French but went on to study many other languages. Along with my French major, I also have a Japanese major and am National Board certified in Spanish. All of this is due to the love of world languages that French inspired in me!
  • Laura Terlecky
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Telephone number
    • 248-723-5027
    • Comments
    • offer the 3 languages, chinese, french and german, especially if the children need to take it for 5 years!!
  • Jan Janigian
    • Do you live within the Bloomfield Hills School District? (yes/no)
    • yes
    • Are you 18 or over? (yes/no)
    • yes