Hispanics Sue Over English-Speaking-Only Rule At Catholic School

[Filly]

but I feel it is offensive to expect english speaking Americans to make sure they can speak a foreign language to make immigrants feel at home.

In what language do you order your Geno's steak sandwich? LOL

BTW, no all Parocial schools do not receive funding.

Does this mean I can sue my seventh grade nun for demanding I stay away from the boys? That was sexist.

 

[drip~drop]

I will learn Spanish when I move to Mexico or another Spanish speaking country out of respect to the citizens and their culture. However, as long as I live in America, I refuse to give into this crap. Let them learn my language when they are in my country.

:clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap:

 

[Pepper]

My husband surely didn't when he took this oath. In fact, he still has his Irish passport. The US does allow people to have duel citizenship, which is a policy that might contradict this oath. Wow - our rules and regulations contradicting each other. What a shocker!

Exacly why I think dual citizenship is wrong. You can't pledge allegance to two countries. Pick one.

 

[txsvicki]

If schools allow students to go around speaking different languages at all times, especially when angry or speaking to a teacher, then it will be chaos and a horrible atmosphere. Private schools will lose tuitions and eventually each race that wants its own language will have no private school at all or be in their own segregated. However, kids shouldn't get kicked out of school for speaking to each other in their ancestral language or be made to feel like they're doing something wrong. Kids can be really hateful though. I heard my neighbor teen boy comparing his brother to a white woman in another language while shooting hoops. I don't know if knew or cared that I'm white, but could understand him.

 

[bakerprune64]

while i do not believe that someone should give up their heritage i do believe if you move to another country that speaks a different language you should learn that one. i know for a fact that there are a few countries that if you wish to become a citizen of their country you MUST learn their language before they will give you citizenship.

it seems to me that these parents are ignoring the reason for the school making this decision and turning it around so they become the victims...sorta the its everyone's fault but mine syndrom and why so many kids now a days don't learn to accept consequences and responsibility for their own actions.

Exactly:clap: Oh btw...welcome to WS!!

 

[reb]

trino-- so true!! it's even changed drastically in the past 15-20 yrs.

 

[Paladin]

How is that possible?

The same way British people speak with an accent. If an Italian father with an Italian accent does nothing but speak to his child in English with that accent, the child will pick up that accent.

 

[Paladin]

BTW...I'm just advocating that people should learn a secondary language. It's not such a horrible thing, and it may come in handy.

 

[Jeana (DP)]

BTW...I'm just advocating that people should learn a secondary language. It's not such a horrible thing, and it may come in handy.

Very true. It will also earn you more money on the job!!!!!

 

[Amraann]

OK..I'll tell you about MY frustration...

I work in the attendance off at a high school. We have hispanic parents who call in and say " You speak spanish?" I say "No, but how can I help you?" (because if i can get a name I can usually decipher what is being said and everything is cool...) BUT most of the time they answer back "umphhh.....ooohhh.......ummmm.....OK.., today my son Johnny can't attend school because he's sick" in PERFECT English!!!! I think a lot of it is laziness.:furious:

We had one parent complain becuase no in the front office spoke spanish. She complained to the District Office in PERFECT English.

I disagree that it is laziness.. I live in South Florida and there is a large population of Spanish speakers here...
A lot of the time its not lazy its self conscious.
I do not fault that parent for complaining .. Plenty of parents probably only do speak Spanish and there should be someone who can understand them and speak to them.
In order to graduate college you have to take a couple of Foreign Language classes.. So how is it that in a building of college educated educators no one knows how to speak Spanish?

 

[Paladin]

In order to graduate college you have to take a couple of Foreign Language classes.

Are you sure about that? I didn't take any foreign language classes in college. My last foreign language class was in the 11th grade.

 

[Amraann]

Are you sure about that? I didn't take any foreign language classes in college. My last foreign language class was in the 11th grade.

I am pretty sure.. Its been awhile since I was in college. (the 90's)

 

[Jeana (DP)]

Are you sure about that? I didn't take any foreign language classes in college. My last foreign language class was in the 11th grade.

Now you've got to have foreign language classes to graduate high school. Back in the old days, we took the classes, but not too many passed them. I had two years of french and I can only say designer names!

 

[LaWanda]

My kids both took French in high school. They didn't want to take Spanish. I think my boys did it to impress the girls ....

 

[Paladin]

Now you've got to have foreign language classes to graduate high school. Back in the old days, we took the classes, but not too many passed them. I had two years of french and I can only say designer names!

Well, my point was even if you take foreign language classes in highschool or college, if you don't use it, you'll forget how to speak it.

 

[Jeana (DP)]

Well, my point was even if you take foreign language classes in highschool or college, if you don't use it, you'll forget how to speak it.

That's so true. My husband grew up in Germany and he's got to force himself to speak the language every so often or he won't be able to translate for me when we watch war movies!!! LOL

I think some languages are definately easier to learn than others. A friend of mine married a German attorney and moved to Berlin and she spent hours a day in classes for about eight months to be able to learn German well enough to get a teaching job in an American school there. I've heard that English is a very difficult language to learn and while that may be true, I think that for the most part, most of us are pretty accepting of that fact and try to help when someone is having trouble. There are plenty of different and FREE classes that are available, for instance, for Spanish-speaking individuals in the school and library systems here.

 

[Pepper]

I agree with those that said this is a private school, and they can make the rules.

As a California resident, I think we should teach Spanish in elementary school, and not wait until high school. Bilingual people are in demand here, and I wish I knew Spanish. But you can't start in HS without having some sort of emersion like living in Mexico for 6 months.

But whether or not English is the "official" language of the US, it IS the primary language spoken here. And for all the reasons previously mentioned, people living here should learn English.

English is the "official" language in more countries than any other language.
http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/countries_by_languages.htm

 

[Rino]

Are you sure about that? I didn't take any foreign language classes in college. My last foreign language class was in the 11th grade.

My sons have to. They go to Rutgers

 

[Amraann]

I agree with those that said this is a private school, and they can make the rules.

As a California resident, I think we should teach Spanish in elementary school, and not wait until high school. Bilingual people are in demand here, and I wish I knew Spanish. But you can't start in HS without having some sort of emersion like living in Mexico for 6 months.

But whether or not English is the "official" language of the US, it IS the primary language spoken here. And for all the reasons previously mentioned, people living here should learn English.

English is the "official" language in more countries than any other language.
http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/countries_by_languages.htm

In Florida they do!

 

[Linda7NJ]

If they or anyone else doesn't like the rules at a private school...then don't go there!

These parents are DEAD WRONG and need to teach their brats some respect and manners!