Most of the less common language classes are taught in neighborhood churches, but Armenian is taught in this high school, probably the last Armenian class in a public school. - - Donna Poisl
By Erica Noonan, Globe Staff
WATERTOWN - With the third highest number of Armenian immigrants in the United States, Watertown faces a formidable challenge - how to preserve what may be the country’s last surviving Armenian-language program at a public high school.
Prospects for the program, on the eve of its 40th anniversary, looked dim after the school could not find a replacement for its founder, Anahid Yacoubian, who retired from full-time work in 2007 but taught the advanced-level class to juniors and seniors until the end of school this spring.
Watertown’s school administrators considered dropping the program for lack of teachers, but after a frantic search found an instructor just two weeks before the start of classes on Sept. 8. Superintendent Ann Koufman-Frederick said officials were working out one-year contract last week.
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This country was built by immigrants, it will continue to attract and need immigrants. Some people think there are enough people here now -- people have been saying this since the 1700s and it still is not true. They are needed to make up for our aging population and low birthrate. Immigrants often are entrepreneurs, creating jobs. We must help them become Americans and not just people who live here and think of themselves as visitors. When immigrants succeed here, the whole country benefits.
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