I graduated from Skidmore in 1971 as a French major. My original intention had
been to minor in Spanish but after freshman year, I decided against it. Big mistake.
I left Saratoga Springs for Medford, Ma. and spent a year Tufts University where
I earned an M.A. in French. The hunt for a teaching job began in the spring of
1972 and the market was tight. I ended up teaching French and Spanish (I agreed
to take additional courses towards certification) at McCall Junior High in Winchester,
Ma. I stayed there for one year and then moved back to the New York area where
my family is. Since 1973 I have been teaching French and Spanish in the Edgemont
Public Schools in Scarsdale, New York. For the last four years I have been Chair
of Foreign Languages in the district. Edgemont Jr/Sr High School is in a small
affluent suburb about 20 miles north of New York City. About 98% of the students
go on to four year colleges; the other 2% generally go to community colleges and
many later transfer to four-year institutions. As a lifelong learner, I still
take courses, seminars and workshops. Through the AATF I have participated in
summer study in Avignon. French is, and always has been, my passion. Our enrollments
in French have dropped as those in Spanish have risen, following a national trend.
Finding qualified French teachers on the Junior and Senior High levels is a daunting
task. Maybe you know of some former graduates who are looking for jobs; feel free
to direct them my way.