<p>I think a foreign language is part of a rigorous high school curriculum. I know at my kids’ school the kids that get the check box for rigorous have 4 years of language. 5 in theory if they start in middle school and take AP as a senior, 4 if they take 1-4 in high school. Sorry, I happen to agree that the top students are taking a language. Lots of kids whine I can’t do math, I can’t do language, I can’t do this or that…OK but then don’t whine if your selective college requires you to “make up” what you missed in high school. It’s shocking that as a country we yap, yap, yap about global this and global that and then we think it’s “not important” for students to learn alittle bit of language and culture surrounding a foreign language. HIgh school kids may not become proficient at the specific language but they learn much about the differences in language in general.</p>