Derry Township School Board Pending Foreign Travel Policy Change

We, the undersigned are against the Derry Township School District's pending policy change in regards to foreign travel. We are in support of Leslie Shearer, Hershey Middle School Foreign Language teacher and her ability to lead educational trips to Europe. We believe that it should not matter what grade levels Shearer teachers, but rather her willingness and ability to lead such trips. We also believe that the French exchange program she has run for several years should be continued for the sole reasoning that it fosters cross-cultural learning that middle school students might otherwise never be able to experience.

We believe as global citizens the privilege of experiencing another culture should never be taken lightly. These experiences however short, teach us to be more aware of cultures around us, and help to make us better citizens of the world. Without such trips, some Hershey students may never be able to experience other cultures. Instead of restricting such travel, we believe the Derry Township School Board should embrace it.

We urge the School Board to reconsider its position and to take into account the numerous current and former Hershey High School students, whose participation on Shearers trips, and exchange programs better prepared them for college, and the world as a whole.