Open Letter from Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz to Board of Regents

January 3, 2011

Dr. Merryl H. Tisch
Chancellor
New York State Board of Regents
9 East 79th Street
New York, New York 10075

Dear Chancellor Tisch:

This letter is to express my strong opposition to budget cutting measures that are being proposed by the Elementary, Middle, Secondary and Continuing Education Committee to eliminate all Language Regents Exams with the exception of Spanish and French.

I am against the elimination of these exams, and support their immediate reinstatement.

It is my fervent belief that the New York State Board of Regents should be setting a standard of excellence in education by continuing to support the study of many languages, including Italian, Latin, Hebrew and German.

In this global market, we must realize the importance of language skills as well as the study of different cultures. It is essential that we provide more options to New York students – not less.

Respectfully,
Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz
32nd Senatorial District
900 Rogers Place
Bronx, New York 10459
(718) 991-3161