Testimony to the State Board of Education: World Languages
Good Afternoon Members of the Board. My name is Riley Sheehan. I am a Senior at Haddonfield
Memorial High School and study German language and culture under Mr. Christopher Gwin.
Testifying on the importance of learning world languages in front of a board, German language in
particular, will be difficult; however, I will do my very best.
The state of New Jersey is home to thousands of students, many of whom are attending college, and
many who will go on to attend college. Many of these students will work nationally, or even
internationally, for example, in Europe. Ladies and gentlemen of the board, the leading country in the
world in the field of industrial exports is Germany, with $1.498 billion U.S. dollars. As well, Germany
leads Europe in monetary reserves, making it an economically stable country. The meaning behind
these numbers is simple:
in the world.
Germany is one of the most industrialized, economically stable countries
As a student and future full-time worker, Germany is the most logical country to
associate myself with because of its stability.
Observing the German culture of industry and
bringing it to the U.S. promotes not just the United States as a whole, but also as individual states,
such as New Jersey.
For instances, luxury sports cars are beginning to sell more and more as the
economy continues to heal.
BMW and Mercedes-Benz are two of the many luxury sports car
companies that thrive in New Jersey.
luxury vehicles.
Using German language and culture, we obtain greater sales in
Overall, my point is that Germany is a powerful country industrially and
economically, and using German industries to help further our country and state requires German
language and cultural understanding. The obtainment of this cultural understanding requires the
Riley Sheehan
Haddonfield Memorial High School
Class of 2010
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continued teaching of German in New Jersey.
However, German is not only rich in industry and economy; it is rich in history.
the 20th century was absolutely traumatic in many ways.
period.
What can be learned through ignorance?
the understanding of the culture and language.
The middle part of
However, many want to forget this time
The best way to learn of the history is through
Considering German, understanding the first and
second world wars, the Holocaust, and other events during the mid 20 th century, requires the
knowledge and understanding of the German culture.
of understanding is missing.
Without it, a significant piece to the puzzle
Members of the board, maintaining the German language and
culture studies is not only keeping an important a class in school, but also maintaining the
knowledge of a strong industrial and economic nation as well as the true understanding of the
events that occurred during the mid 20th century.
It is obvious that I have elaborated specifically on German Language and Culture studies.
done so because German has helped me fin d my desired place in society.
coming into high school, I had one year of German under my belt.
but I never knew why.
I have
As an eighth grader
I knew I wanted to continue,
There was always a strange feeling, a desire, in my heart to continue
studying the language and culture.
No matter the rough grades, bumpy teacher-student
relationships, or negative peer pressure, I continued to study German throughout high school.
And now, as a Senior in high school, I have discovered the reason for my perserverance:
understanding.
I have always asked questions I knew I could not find the answers to in a
Riley Sheehan
Haddonfield Memorial High School
Class of 20 1 0
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simple U.S. history book. It took 5 years, two teachers, many rough grades, but an constant, burning
desire to continue my studies, to finally understand that the world is made of up many cultures, and
answers to once “impossible to answer” questions, can be found through the studying of these many
cultures.
In college, I hope to study Islam, Judaism, and German along with their relationships with
each other.
be right now.
Without my foundation of German as a world language study, I have no idea where I would
Certainly, I am only one person; probably one of few who has found his place in the
world through world language study.
However, who are we to deny another person that same
enlightenment by ending world language study?
two others.
German is just one culture.
Islam and Judaism are
I have many more cultures to study before I can answer my many questions.
In conclusion members of the board, taking away world language studies would do nothing but leave
each culture to its own; a drawn curtain behind a shroud of ignorance.
World language teaches each
person to be a citizen of the world, as well as a citizen of each nation.
Communication is furthered
through other cultural studies, and shrouds are thrown down as we learn of our international neighbors.
America has become that curtain culture, however, and we need to throw open that curtain by
continuing to learn world languages and cultures.
We must turnover stones of knowledge and
understanding, and can only do this by studying other languages and cultures.
Thank you all for your time.
Riley Sheehan
Haddonfield Memorial High School
Class of 20 1 0
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