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Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your NYSAFLT
President.
World language teachers understand the increasingly critical
role learning languages play in preparing our students for a 21st
century world economy. We travel. We talk. We listen to radio
stations from different countries. We read news from multiple
sources and perspectives. We know the world isn't flat.
However, as the need for World Language programs increases,
education budgets at the federal, state and local levels are being
cut. These cuts have led many financially stressed districts to
reduce or eliminate non-mandated language programs.
In answer to the diminishing support from federal and state
education departments, it is up to us to advocate for the
educational needs of our students and to keep our programs strong
and viable.
As we begin 2012, here are some of the initiatives that NYSAFLT
is pursuing:
- Educational policies and regulations are continuously
being revised and updated at the state and federal level. We
regularly work with policymakers and legislators to stay
current with new and upcoming changes and to guide decision
makers to develop constructive decisions.
- As NYSED continues to develop a Common Core resources, we
are working to ensure that our content is included in the
documents and resources the state produces. Our committee
chairs for elementary, middle and secondary education have
been charged with submitting activities for the state Common
Core resource activities.
- The Board of Regents’ recent discontinuation of our state
assessments requires advocacy on multiple levels. We
understand the integrity and legitimacy the state produced
exams gives to our programs and will advocate for their
reinstatement. However, we will also work to help New York
State World Language Departments have access to quality exams
for local use.
- To keep our members up-to-date on all classroom strategies
and techniques, we are working to make leading edge
professional development opportunities available through our
Colloquium, Summer Institute and Annual Conference.
There is an old French proverb, “Les petits ruisseaux font les
grandes rivières”, literally, “little streams make big rivers”.
Each of us is a stream and by our working together, NYSAFLT can be
that big river. So, this is my request to you: get involved; make
use of NYSAFLT's resources; and advocate for language learning and
teaching
Thank you, and best wishes for a professionally enriching 2012.
Mary Holmes
2012 NYSAFLT President
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