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ARMENIAN PROGRAM NEARS 40TH YEAR
By Christine Laubenstein
Watertown TAB & Press
http://www.wickedlocal.com/watertown/news/x313672 877/Armenian-program-nears-40th-year
June 5 2009
MA
WATERTOWN - On Tuesday, students in Anahid Yacoubian's Armenian class
translated a document about a memorial ceremony for Alan Hovhaness,
a renowned composer who had Armenian roots.
Yacoubian was pleased with the translation junior Hagop Keshishyan
read aloud.
"That was good," she said. "There weren't any mistakes, but I probably
have to check the spelling."
As the Armenian language program prepares to mark its 40th anniversary
in the Watertown school district next school year, its teachers hope
that it will continue for many more years.
They said the public school program -- which is one of a kind in New
England -- is a valuable resource to students of Armenian heritage as
well as other students interested in learning a language and culture
of importance to the town.
"It teaches culture, it teaches history and pride in your ethnicity,"
said Siran Tamakian, who teaches an Armenian class for levels 1 and 2.
An estimated that 30 percent of Watertown residents are Armenian or
of Armenian heritage, said Sharistan Melkonian, chairperson of the
Watertown-based Armenian National Committee of Massachusetts. In the
most recent Census, 8.2 percent of residents claimed Armenian ancestry.
Students in Yacoubian's class, which consists of levels 3 and 4,
confirm the class is worthwhile.
All of those in attendance Tuesday were brought up speaking Armenian
at home. But they didn't necessarily learn how to speak it perfectly,
or to read and write it.
"It's my main language and I want to know how to speak it, and I want
to write it correctly," said sophomore Meghri Ishakian.
Junior Ani Moushigian, president of the school's Armenian Club,
said she fears she would forget the language without the class.
There are 13 students in Yacoubian's class, and 15 students in
Tamakian's class. The number of students taking Armenian is lower
than it was decades ago, with the program no longer at the middle
school level, said Yacoubian, who has taught Armenian in the school
district since the program's inception and is now semi-retired.
The language used to be taught in the East Junior High and the West
Junior High.
Also, the school district no longer has a bilingual Armenian/English
program that includes social studies instruction, and there hasn't been
a recent influx of Armenians as was the case in the 1970s, for example.
But the program is still popular enough for it to merit inclusion in
next year's budget. About the same number of students has signed up
for the two classes for next year as this year.
"We've got smaller classes for other courses," said School Committee
Chairperson Tony Paolillo. "As long as we maintain some semblance of
interest in it, we'll continue to provide it."
But according to Superintendent Steven Hiersche, interest might not
be enough to sustain the program in future years.
"There's not any intention I see in the future to get rid of the
program, but the reality is if the school's fiscal state doesn't get
better, almost anything is on the table [for cuts]," he said.
The program's main cost is the two teachers' salaries, he said.
Yacoubian was not asked to return next year in an effort to save
the district some money, he said. Hiersche wasn't sure how much that
would save. Another reason she, and other semi-retired teachers are
not being asked to return is next year is due to the state retirement
system "clamping down on a lot of opportunities that retirees can do,"
Hiersche said.
Yacoubian said she hopes her replacement will help keep the Armenian
program strong. She emphasized that the Armenian Club is similarly
valuable. It holds bake sales of Armenian food to raise money for
senior scholarships, and introduces students outside the Armenian
classes to Armenian culture.
By Christine Laubenstein
Watertown TAB & Press
http://www.wickedlocal.com/watertown/news/x313672 877/Armenian-program-nears-40th-year
June 5 2009
MA
WATERTOWN - On Tuesday, students in Anahid Yacoubian's Armenian class
translated a document about a memorial ceremony for Alan Hovhaness,
a renowned composer who had Armenian roots.
Yacoubian was pleased with the translation junior Hagop Keshishyan
read aloud.
"That was good," she said. "There weren't any mistakes, but I probably
have to check the spelling."
As the Armenian language program prepares to mark its 40th anniversary
in the Watertown school district next school year, its teachers hope
that it will continue for many more years.
They said the public school program -- which is one of a kind in New
England -- is a valuable resource to students of Armenian heritage as
well as other students interested in learning a language and culture
of importance to the town.
"It teaches culture, it teaches history and pride in your ethnicity,"
said Siran Tamakian, who teaches an Armenian class for levels 1 and 2.
An estimated that 30 percent of Watertown residents are Armenian or
of Armenian heritage, said Sharistan Melkonian, chairperson of the
Watertown-based Armenian National Committee of Massachusetts. In the
most recent Census, 8.2 percent of residents claimed Armenian ancestry.
Students in Yacoubian's class, which consists of levels 3 and 4,
confirm the class is worthwhile.
All of those in attendance Tuesday were brought up speaking Armenian
at home. But they didn't necessarily learn how to speak it perfectly,
or to read and write it.
"It's my main language and I want to know how to speak it, and I want
to write it correctly," said sophomore Meghri Ishakian.
Junior Ani Moushigian, president of the school's Armenian Club,
said she fears she would forget the language without the class.
There are 13 students in Yacoubian's class, and 15 students in
Tamakian's class. The number of students taking Armenian is lower
than it was decades ago, with the program no longer at the middle
school level, said Yacoubian, who has taught Armenian in the school
district since the program's inception and is now semi-retired.
The language used to be taught in the East Junior High and the West
Junior High.
Also, the school district no longer has a bilingual Armenian/English
program that includes social studies instruction, and there hasn't been
a recent influx of Armenians as was the case in the 1970s, for example.
But the program is still popular enough for it to merit inclusion in
next year's budget. About the same number of students has signed up
for the two classes for next year as this year.
"We've got smaller classes for other courses," said School Committee
Chairperson Tony Paolillo. "As long as we maintain some semblance of
interest in it, we'll continue to provide it."
But according to Superintendent Steven Hiersche, interest might not
be enough to sustain the program in future years.
"There's not any intention I see in the future to get rid of the
program, but the reality is if the school's fiscal state doesn't get
better, almost anything is on the table [for cuts]," he said.
The program's main cost is the two teachers' salaries, he said.
Yacoubian was not asked to return next year in an effort to save
the district some money, he said. Hiersche wasn't sure how much that
would save. Another reason she, and other semi-retired teachers are
not being asked to return is next year is due to the state retirement
system "clamping down on a lot of opportunities that retirees can do,"
Hiersche said.
Yacoubian said she hopes her replacement will help keep the Armenian
program strong. She emphasized that the Armenian Club is similarly
valuable. It holds bake sales of Armenian food to raise money for
senior scholarships, and introduces students outside the Armenian
classes to Armenian culture.