Foreign exchange students are not illegal invaders of local school systems.
That ought to be obvious to everybody. But apparently it is not to Methuen School Committee members Kenneth Henrick and Gary Marcoux.
Henrick and Marcoux, voted against allowing two foreign exchange students — one from Brazil and another from Belgium — to attend Methuen High School this fall.
Marcoux didn't explain his vote. But Henrick said he was opposed for the same reason he is opposed to out-of-district students who come illegally from New Hampshire, Lawrence or other communities to attend school in Methuen — they aren't local residents.
"These kids are coming from another country," he said of the foreign exchange students.
Well, yes, that is the whole point. The goal of foreign exchange programs is to build understanding and friendship between nations and cultures. The students have been invited. They come at their own expense. They live with a host family. They aren't sneaking in. Everybody knows their status — who they are and where they came from.
They spend a year in an American school where, hopefully, they will learn not only English and other academics, but experience freedom, opportunity and other good things America has to offer. Hopefully, American students will learn about the language, customs and merits of a country they may never have the chance to visit, and might not have even been able to point out on a map prior to the arrival of these students.
It is an element of social studies one can never get from reading a book.
And after the school year, those students return to their home country. This has nothing to do with anchor babies or free government services to illegal aliens. And, as committee member Evan Chaisson notes, "We also send students over to their countries as well."
Fortunately a healthy majority of the committee had more common sense — the motion to allow the students to attend passed 5-2. Still, why Henrick and Marcoux would oppose such a thing is more than troubling — it is absurd.
It is absurd to compare them with American students from the region who, for whatever reason, don't want to attend their own public school. Methuen school officials to be aggressive about forcing such students to attend school in the district where they live — the policy adopted April 1 requiring proof of residence was absolutely appropriate.
According to the administration, 21 students have voluntarily withdrawn since the policy took effect, and the cases of another 39 students are pending.
These foreign students are not here demanding citizenship. They are just visitors. Fortunately, a majority of the committee has the wisdom to welcome them as such.
