Garfield’s language department has an impact on a student’s academic experience that no other department can have. Humanities teaches students history and writing; STEM classes teach equations and mathematics. But learning a language is much more than simply conjugating verbs and learning new vocabulary. Language is culture. It exposes you to the framework of culture in other parts of the world.
Garfield Spanish teachers make sure to include lessons about Latiné music, media, history and much more. Students expand their perspective and respect for cultures different from their own, which in turn equips them with more world readiness than any other class can.
Languages give us another way to think, to view, and experience life. While learning new languages is important, it is even more important to learn about the cultures they come from. Cultural education can only be shared by our teachers, and they are irreplaceable because of their own diverse experiences. Their cultural perspective offers us skills that will be retained for the rest of our lives.
The language department has historically been the first to be cut, because the classes required to graduate are still available. Personally, learning Spanish at Garfield has been so much more than just credits for graduating.What I have learned in my Spanish classes here has changed my life and who I am today. Sebastian Cicolini, my first Spanish teacher at Garfield, inspired me to study abroad in Argentina, where I got to make a new family. My education in Spanish has impacted where I work, who I am friends with, and what I want to do in the future. That is an experience that every existing and future Garfield student deserves to have.
As a community, it’s our duty to value and support our language teachers as they did for us. Elizabeth Perez, who has taught Spanish at Garfield for ten years, has endlessly supported students, always providing a safe space for them. She created Fundación Corazón and plays a huge role in Razas Unidas. Profe Hansen is beloved by students, and the thought of her leaving is deeply upsetting to the entire Garfield community, including both current students and alumni.
It is our responsibility as students to continue to speak up and fight against these issues that disrupt Garfield’s educational institution and the student learning experience. Garfield would not be the same without its teachers and the dedication and love that they have for their students, and we need to speak up and advocate for our teachers the way they always have for us.
