To the editor:
It is from Utah that I am writing to you to ask you to do everything possible to save the USM French major. My husband and I lived in Maine, both north and south, for many years. We spent 20 years in southern Maine and I had the opportunity to teach a good number of French courses at USM and to know Nancy Erikson.
I will not repeat the many good reasons to keep French at the University, you already know them. But I do want to express my dismay at the decision to cut the French major from the programs offered at the University.
We are now residing in Salt Lake City, Utah. In the whole state there are 14 elementary schools that offer French dual immersion programs, two of which are in Salt Lake City. The teaching of French begins in the first grade. Other dual language immersion schools teach Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish, German.
Utah values languages. This is a very progressive state in regard to the world of business. Utah has been attracting more and more businesses like Goldman Sachs. Knowing at least one other language is an asset.
Maine is the ideal place to build a strong French program at all levels of education. Maine should be the leader in the study of French; its rich past and its proximity with the province of Québec provide a strong foundation to encourage, develop the teaching of this language. Isn’t it ironic that Utah is far ahead of Maine in that field?
For several years, I taught Adult French Education in Portland. My students came from all walks of life and backgrounds. There is a great interest among the population of Maine to learn French, to know it so as to have meaningful contacts with French-speaking people, to discover its culture and enjoy it, and for business.
In conclusion, I renew my plea to you to find a way to keep the French program at USM and help Nancy Erikson make it stronger.
Marie-Josèphe Silver
Salt Lake City
