Posted on 05/21/2008 7:44:18 AM PDT by steel_resolve
WICHITA, Kan. — Four Hispanic families are suing St. Anne's Catholic School over a policy that requires students to speak English at all times while at school.
The lawsuit, filed Monday, calls for an end to the policy and asks for an order barring similar policies at other diocese schools. It seeks the return of one student to the school who was allegedly kicked out for refusing to sign the "English only" pledge. And it asks for court costs and unspecified damages for discrimination and emotional suffering.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
I have not worked at a school. Do kids usually assimilate on the playground? Don’t they group with their friends or others of the same ethnic group?
The Constitution was written to tell the FEDERAL GOVT what they could and could not do. A private enterprise, in theory, can do basically what it wants. If a Mexican restaurant decided no one could speak English there, yes, people have the right to boycott. Why is it the courts business?
susie
To some extent. However, if they cannot communicate with other children, you have almost assured they won’t interact with them. Kids (and adults) do what is easy. Assimilation should be job one.
susie
I agree.
Absolutely true. My wife and I signed up our son for a “dual immersion” program at our school. Starting in Kindergarten, 90% of the school day is completely in Spanish. It gradually moves up to 50-50 by fifth grade.
My son is almost seven (first grade), and he is fluent in Spanish. He has conversations with people who stand amazed that this little toe-head understands what they’re saying. And we don’t speak a word of Spanish to him at home.
His English skills are way above grade level, too. His brain is working in a different manner than it would have if he were in and English-only classroom. I think the program is a total sham for kids who don’t speak English (50% of the class), but for kids like my son, it’s spectacular.
I took four years of Spanish in High School and College, and worked as a cop in South Central L.A., speaking lots of Spanish, and I can’t keep up with him.
It’s a private school. If you don’t like it, send your kids to school elsewhere.
Sounds like a wise rule to me. If the parents want their kids to grow up in this country, then the kids need to learn the language and learn it well if they hope to achieve the 'American dream.'
By the fact its a private school to begin with, I say the adminstration simply tell these families... don’t come back.
Hopefully the priest at the parish sponsoring this school isn’t some leftist social justice type and will tell these fools to get bent.
OK
I would spend my money at a different restaurant. . .no big deal.
They would likely boycott the place and see if there was any legal action they could take to prevent such blatant discrimination.
Whining lefties might pursue legal action. Conservatives wouldn't because they know it is a private business and they have the right to choose how to run it.
1. Mexican food in Miami sucks, especially when you can get great Cuban/Colombian/Venezuelan food, to say nothing of the Argentinean steakhouses/Italian joints.
2. I would just take my business elsewhere. No big F'in deal.
Speaking other languages at school is not only divisive but it is also rude. It allows students to individuate by ethnic groups and further prevents assimilation which is vital not only to the success of the children but also of the school, the community and our nation.
And if the kids can’t learn English at school because they are allowed to keep speaking Spanish there, then they are wasting their time going to school since they won’t be speaking English at home either.
And since when do Americans have a language other than English as ‘(their) language’?
If these kids want to speak Latin, I could certainly understand a Catholic School making that an exception.
Invaders who should be treated as such.
Languages other than English were allowed only in the respective foreign language classrooms.
There were a few parents who did not speak English who had the policy explained to them through translators. While the rest of us just listened, these parents actually applauded the policy!
The kids spoke whatever language they wanted off the school grounds, but got a gentle but swift reminder about the policy whenever they slipped while on school grounds. The policy was very successful in acheiving the desired result-- the kids got along very well, there were no cliques and my daughter, who attended 4th thru 9th grade in that school, still counts former classmates there among her closest friends.
Question: If this policy worked so well in Japan, where English is a minority language, who wouldn't it work in America?
I've got news for you: there are many Mexican-run establishments in the United States where I wouldn't go in without a Hispanic friend because some of the patrons do not like gringos.
bookmark
This is a private school. They make the rules. If the kids/parents don’t like the rules they can take their arse elsewhere.
While they may certainly speak ‘their language’, as in parents native language at home, they are certainly not wasting their time. They will have to be able to speak english at some point in their life.
As I said a number of times, I agree.
Can illegals sue?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.