Published: February 10, 2008 12:18 am            

Not happy with news story on exchange students

Regarding: Sunday, February 3, 2008 article “Different cultures, different views”:

I would like to take this time to thank, Jennifer Jacob, for the article in Sunday’s paper regarding the exchange students we host, Ivana Duka and Franziska Schreier. Because of the article, the girls cried most of the day. Jennifer failed to mention anything positive the girls said. She did not mention that both girls were on the soccer team. She failed to mention that Franzi made the tennis team. The article made it sound as though they hated everything about Meridian and their school, when in fact, that is so far from the truth. I hope Jennifer thinks of two teenage girls, no not adults, sitting in a classroom in a foreign school feeling unwelcome. Did Jennifer and the Meridian Star totally intend for the rest of the girls’ school year to be miserable or did they just not care?

The schools that take exchange students hope to provide a positive school experience. Northeast welcomes exchange students with open arms. Northeast had eleven exchange students last year and five this year. For every exchange student that attends, there is a pile of paperwork that school personnel must tackle.

When the paper was asked to write an article about the exchange program, our intent was to attract more families willing to host. However, Jennifer and the Meridian Star decided to print something I viewed as negative. Families that host exchange students are not monetarily compensated. A family hosts because they enjoy learning about other countries’ cultures and sharing a little of their own. Also, the families that host truly care about the student’s well-being and happiness while here.

I am so sorry that I allowed this reporter to interview Franzi and Ivana. I believe the article made them sound arrogant and ungrateful. The girls I see everyday are sweet and appreciative.



Daye Denton

Meridian

        

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