The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

A Proclamation

By His Excellency

GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY

2004

WHEREAS:     Our community and communities across America are welcoming many new neighbors, friends, employees and citizens from countries and cultures throughout the world -- people for whom English is not their native language; and

WHEREAS:     Americans have growing social, cultural and economic ties to the global community, offering great opportunities but presenting new challenges as we seek to communicate with and understand our international partners from different language and culture backgrounds; and

WHEREAS:     Studying other languages has been shown to contribute to increased cognitive skills, better academic performance and a greater understanding of others, while also providing life-long learning opportunities for people beyond school age; and

WHEREAS:     Proficiency in other languages enhances Americans' career opportunities and provides employers with a workforce with the necessary skills for an international marketplace; and

WHEREAS:     Foreign language educators are working cooperatively to promote the benefits of language learning to students, parents, business, industry, health and social services leaders, and policy makers throughout the nation; and

WHEREAS:     Language education in the 21st century includes a commitment to the study of long sequences of world languages beginning in the early grades to enable students to develop the levels of proficiency needed to effectively communicate with people from other cultures whether at home or abroad; and

WHEREAS:     Language educators are urging the public to recognize the value of delivering better education to our students, of expanding the cultural and literary horizons of adult learners, and of strengthening America's position and security around the world,

NOW, THEREFORE, 1, MITT ROMNEY, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby proclaim the year of 2005 to be

THE YEAR OF LANGUAGES

and urge all the citizens of the Commonwealth to take cognizance of this event and participate fittingly in its observance.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston, this nineteenth day of October in the year of our Lord two thousand and four, and of the Independence of the United States f America, the two hundred and twenty-eighth

MITT ROMNEY

By His Excellency the Governor
WILLIAM F. GALVIN
Secretary of the Commonwealth

GOD SAVE THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS