The Philadelphia Board of Superintendents has announced that Hebrew will be introduced in the final two grades of two of Philadelphia’s high schools if enough students signify their intention to study the language.
Such students at Northeast and Overbrook High Schools will be allowed to substitute Hebrew for the foreign language they have been studying for two or three years. The ruling was issued in connection with a survey now underway on such language preference. Previously the super intendants had ruled that Hebrew would be an elective addition to foreign languages now being studied and not a substitute. Parental approval will be required also.
David A. Horowitz, associate superintendent of Philadelphia schools, said that two years of experimentation would be required before serious consideration could be given to adding Hebrew to the list of foreign languages approved for study. He said that if and when such a decision was made, study of Hebrew would begin in the ninth grade.
The cautious attitude of the school board was explained by the fact that in other cities where similar experiments had been made, the language had to be dropped for lack of student interest. Students were informed that dropping a language for the two years of experimental Hebrew might create complications in college admissions. It was explained that some college entrance boards oppose student ratings which include only two years of a foreign language.
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