2008 Woodie Awards
Why Cut German?
Rusty Stoob
Issue date: 11/14/07 Section: Opinion
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The administration of Humboldt State University has proposed to eliminate the German Studies program.
The Humboldt State Faculty Senate is about to consider the proposal. We question why this vital program has been selected to be cut when:
1. The Arcata, McKinleyville, Eureka High Schools and College of the Redwoods have German programs that feed Humboldt State.
2. The current German program at Humboldt State continues to increase its enrollment.
3. Humboldt State has exchange programs with educational institutions in Bremen and Halle Germany and students have also studied at other German universities like Heidelberg. These exchanges have been for students and faculty. Some students have gone on to earn higher degrees in Germany and now work professionally in Germany.
4. Humboldt State has a special connection to Germany as Humboldt State is named for Alexander von Humboldt, a most famous German naturalist, botanist, zoologist and considered a founder of modern geography. He was named by Charles Darwin as the greatest scientific traveler who ever lived. The top German university is named Humboldt University. Last year Humboldt State did a week celebration to honor this legacy with films and lecturers and guests from Germany.
5. Germany is one of the top tourist attractions for travelers from Humboldt County. For many years Humboldt State has included a three-week tour of Germany for students of the German Program.
6. The United States military has 60,000 troops stationed in Germany for at least a two-year tour of duty. Some 23,000 children of these troops are attending school in Germany. The German government has provided each of these schools with a German teacher so all the children have a chance to study German. The families live in German villages as well as on military bases and contribute to our good relations with the German people. When these students and the GI's begin their studies in college, they often chose German in addition to their desired course of study. (statistics from the Congressional Budget Office - www.cbo.gov)
The Humboldt State Faculty Senate is about to consider the proposal. We question why this vital program has been selected to be cut when:
1. The Arcata, McKinleyville, Eureka High Schools and College of the Redwoods have German programs that feed Humboldt State.
2. The current German program at Humboldt State continues to increase its enrollment.
3. Humboldt State has exchange programs with educational institutions in Bremen and Halle Germany and students have also studied at other German universities like Heidelberg. These exchanges have been for students and faculty. Some students have gone on to earn higher degrees in Germany and now work professionally in Germany.
4. Humboldt State has a special connection to Germany as Humboldt State is named for Alexander von Humboldt, a most famous German naturalist, botanist, zoologist and considered a founder of modern geography. He was named by Charles Darwin as the greatest scientific traveler who ever lived. The top German university is named Humboldt University. Last year Humboldt State did a week celebration to honor this legacy with films and lecturers and guests from Germany.
5. Germany is one of the top tourist attractions for travelers from Humboldt County. For many years Humboldt State has included a three-week tour of Germany for students of the German Program.
6. The United States military has 60,000 troops stationed in Germany for at least a two-year tour of duty. Some 23,000 children of these troops are attending school in Germany. The German government has provided each of these schools with a German teacher so all the children have a chance to study German. The families live in German villages as well as on military bases and contribute to our good relations with the German people. When these students and the GI's begin their studies in college, they often chose German in addition to their desired course of study. (statistics from the Congressional Budget Office - www.cbo.gov)
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Laura Aquino
posted 11/27/07 @ 6:12 AM PST
German is an important language for scholarship throughout the history of Western Civilization. It is important to have the language of Goethe, great physicists, etc. (Continued…)
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