In prior years, German 4 was the expected class that any senior who desired to further their German education could take. No one ever imagined that their worlds would be turned upside down, come the end of their junior year, when the excited German knowledge-seekers had their German dreams dashed–there would be no AP German class their senior year. Despite the fact that these students had spent the last three years of their high school career working to impress colleges, such as those in the UC system that strongly recommend four years of a foreign language, the students were faced with the fact that, due to inflation of class sizes, their prospect of taking this impressive advanced course was not able to be fulfilled.
One may be wondering is “How did this happen?” If our administration knew the sizes of the incoming freshman and sophomore German classes, why wasn’t a solution sought after sooner? The size of the class of 2022 is upwards of 600 students, nearly 200 more than this year’s senior class. This overwhelming class size means more students taking German, which in turn leads to need for more first level German classes. The result? No room in the schedule for AP German.
Cameron Lee (‘19) clarified how the AP German scheduling situation worked out. He said that students were told last May that the class would be cut. Shortly after, frustrated parents and students began emailing administration and district officials regarding potential solutions. During the summer, they were told that a solution was on its way, but come the Monday morning of orientation, they found the class missing from their schedule. Frau Templeton, along with a group of passionate students, worked hard with administration to schedule German as a zero period in less than a day.
Many students at McClatchy take zero periods, and with the exception of HISP sophomores, they are completely optional. Students may participate in zero periods such as yearbook, lifeguarding, and student government, or choose to use the hour before the school day to sleep, or get some extra studying done. Many of the German students desired to use their zero period in ways such as these, but are instead sacrificing their early mornings to work hard in their advanced-level German class. The students are extremely grateful for Frau Templeton’s commitment to them and the program, noting how she is dedicating her early mornings to the class.
Cameron Lee has dedicated his mornings to student government for the past three years, with the exception of his required HISP zero period his sophomore year. Lee is the student body secretary, and with an important role in student government, found himself conflicted when it came to his position on the ASB board and his desire to continue learning a language that he’s passionate about. Deciding between two classes he cares about was something Lee hadn’t planned for his senior year.
“German is something I’m really passionate about studying, so sacrificing my position as secretary wasn’t the end of the world,” said Lee. “But I was still upset that I would have to give up my role on the board and in ASB.” Cameron was forced to give up his position as secretary in order to continue taking German, and the ASB board is still deciding who will take his place.
Meredith Brown (‘19), a passionate German student who actively petitioned for the German class to have a place at McClatchy, also gave her insight on how she felt the dilemma was being handled.
“When we were told last year that we wouldn’t have a class, we were given excuses rather than reasons. Admin told us we shouldn’t complain about it, because underclassman were required to take their German class, but for us it was just an extra class.”
Brown also mentioned that in order for the class to stay, 20 students or more need to be enrolled. As there are only 16 students right now, and a few students have expressed that they would rather spend zero period doing other things, the future of the class is uncertain.