Posted on 10/30/2014 8:17:04 AM PDT by BenLurkin
Workers unions are firing back at the Los Angeles Unified School District after it is believed to have told cafeteria workers at Harvard Elementary School they could only speak English on campus.
The district allegedly posted a sign in the school’s cafeteria that read: “During works hrs we the cafe have a English only rule for safety reasons.”
The directive was issued at a school where Spanish is spoken by the majority of cafeteria workers and about 85 percent of students, according to a statement issued by the United Teachers Los Angeles and Service Employees International Union Local 99, which represents cafeteria workers.
“I would say like 99 percent of the kids are Hispanic, so there’s no reason for them to tell them not to talk Spanish,” parent Frislian Gomez said.
It has also started to worry cafeteria workers at other LAUSD schools.
“The workers are getting concerned. They’re asking, ‘Is this English-only policy going to be in effect for everybody?'” said Gamaliel Andrade, who’s worked for 14 years in the cafeteria at Farmdale Elementary in East L.A.
Union officials said having workers struggle to speak a language they’re uncomfortable with would be problematic and create a “safety issue” in the case of an emergency.
“It’s a safety issue if we can’t communicate, so I’m going to communicate in the language that’s most effective with the co-workers around me,” Andrade said.
They also raised the point that it may distance the large contingency of parents who don’t speak English at home:
“We believe the ‘English only’ directive for cafeteria workers sends the wrong message to our students and to parents. As students master English language skills, it would be a waste, and unjust, if students were called upon to abandon their other languages. As the district seeks broader parent engagement and stronger ties with our immigrant communities, it is necessary to re-examine this rule. In a community as diverse as Los Angeles, bilingual and multilingual skills should be celebrated.”
Not everyone finds the English-only rule an issue.
“I don’t have a problem with it. I’m from here. The whole community speaks English now,” parent Carlos Enriquez said.
Meanwhile, the district website reports that 92 languages other than English are spoken by students in LAUSD schools. More than 160,000 students are listed as English learners, meaning they’re being instructed to speak English proficiently.
UTLA and SEIU Local 99 said they’re “standing up for language rights and multilingualism” for students and employees at district schools.
Calls to the district, which were made after-hours Wednesday, have not yet been returned.
” UTLA and SEIU Local 99 said they’re “standing up for language rights “
LANGUAGE rights??
I would say like 99 percent of the kids are Hispanic.
Another democrat gift.
SEIU says “Death to America”, and means it.
This is California. Speak Spanish.
Let ‘em blast all they want.
Follow the blast by replying, “Shove it up your Obamahole, dork.”
CW-II, coming soon to a city near you.
When I shop in a store in the good old USA, I expect English. If some service nut speaks Spanish to me, I’ll speak German back to them. Have a little stand off at the OK corral!!!
:-)
“I would say like 99 percent of the kids are Hispanic.”
And this is why English should be reinforced at every opportunity.
My daughter could have studied Spanish in high school. I convinced her to study Chinese instead.
Genau!
“99% of the kids are Hispanic”
Nice to know we are educating another Country’s Children.
Any odds on how many of the little darlings are Illegals?
My Wife is half “Hispanic”, born in the good old U S of A.
Viva La Raza!
Let them pay their union dues in pesos.
Union wants to sign up 100 million new illegals.
The ability to fluently read, write, and SPEAK English is required for citizenship. Deport every one of them!
” SEIU says “Death to America”, and means it.”
Obama’s commie scum.
Just took the Amtrak train from Seattle to Los Angeles and back. First time I’ve been to California in about 10 years.
It’s shocking how shabby so much of the state looks now, especially in areas where there’s lots of illegals, e.g., Monterey county.
English not included of course.
Seriously, I'm in L.A. county and have stood in retail lines and even spent a morning in court while the sales person or judge worked through all the Spanish names &/or speakers before addressing anyone in English.
I was going to leave Miami anyway, but shortly before I left, a "line-jumper" tried to signal the clerk behind my back.
To Sears' credit, the cashier said, "I'm with a customer". :-/
Agree it’s for their own safety some live here for 20 years and still speak gibberish.
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