This paper argues that an elitist concept regarding foreign language study and absolute criteria for such study have made foreign language study insensitive to the needs of an increasingly larger proportion of the student population in New South Wales, including even the most able students. In discussing this viewpoint, the paper examines: (1) the historical origin of foreign language (FL) elitism and its effects on current FL study, (2) the consequences of FL elitism, the decline of FL study, and (3) the direction of change. In the three appendices that conlude the report, tables illustrate: (1) the selection of foreign language students, (2) the trends of FL study as compared to the trends for the general student population, and (3) the trends of FL study in absolute terms, without comparison to the trends for the general student population. (Author/PMP)