School tells teachers to speak English only

Arizona Republic ^ | August 19, 2002 | Maggie Galehouse

[4America]

Teachers at PT Coe Elementary are shocked by Principal Lesa Thomas' request to keep Spanish out of their playground, cafeteria and hallways.

The K-5 school is part of the Isaac Elementary School District, where the student population is 95 percent Hispanic.

[mhking]

"And we can't talk to students in Spanish, not even if we're outside in recess time. We can't praise students in Spanish, either. Nothing."

Sounds good to me. They want to speak Spanish, no problem; do it at home - on their own time.

[MacDorcha]

crap this comp is slow.... i hit the enter key twice, sorry bout the double entry

[4America]

"Sounds good to me. They want to speak Spanish, no problem; do it at home - on their own time."

I agree. Very well put. My ancestors did it, so why can't the hispanics? If they really want to succeed, learning the english language will definitely benefit them.

[mykej]

" They aren't saying the children can't speak Spanish on the playground, only that the teachers must reply in THIS country's native language! This should be the rule across America!"

Uhm, the "native language" of Arizona isn't English. In fact, it isn't Spanish either. There were 19 separate cultures there before either showed up. Which native American language would you like them to speak?

[Doctor Stochastic]

Perhaps their principals weren't as stupid as Lisa Thomas.

[Boonie Rat]

"We were told that if a parent wants to talk to us, we have to ask, 'Do you speak English?' " said fourth-grade teacher Esmeralda Parra.

Hint. This is America. We speak English. When we go to Mexico we're expected to speak Spanish. Learn English.

Boonie Rat

MACV SOCOM, PhuBai/Hue '65-'66

[gunshy]

When will they ever learn...when will they ever learn!

I think you may have the makings for a great song here. Some lyrics that I have come up with to add to yours "where have all the children gone". Sounds pretty good, would you like to collaborate?

[Illbay]

I hardly think calling out to a little girl on the merry-go-round not to dangle her feet whiles spinning around, in Spanish, constitutes "official business" on a par with Voter Registration forms, or what-have-you.

Let's try and keep a little perspective, shall we?

[Myrean]

Uhm, the "native language" of Arizona isn't English. In fact, it isn't Spanish either. There were 19 separate cultures there before either showed up. Which native American language would you like them to speak?

The last I heard Arizona was still part of the United States. If you try really hard you might be able to figure out the appropriate language is English!

If the teachers don't want to speak English they should seek employment in Mexico.

[glc1173@aol.com]

"This is simply not a proper use of the principal's authority."

What the heck is "a proper use of the principal's authority" to you?

When I was a student in - mainly government - schools from 1965-78, you had to get the teacher's permission to go to the restroom. Talking out of turn in any language was good for a detention. Principals required teachers to not let kids wear hats in class. The principal of the other local high school banned baggy shorts. Be absent and you had to get a note from Mom - even if you were legally an adult (many were for several months as seniors) and old enough to enlist in the Marines without Mom signing.

And you're saying a principal can't ban Spanish - when he can ban students talking in English in class?

Get the sticker!

[lawdude]

"I think you may have the makings for a great song here. Some lyrics that I have come up with to add
to yours "where have all the children gone". Sounds pretty good, would you like to collaborate?"

Are you Paul or Mary?

[goodnesswins]

Guess they won't be inquiring as to how many guns are in the home, where their momma works, or whether their daddy is a migrant worker either (at least on in Spanish!)

[whipitgood]

"Get the sticker"
And have your car vandalized. SOME of them can read english.

[A. Pole]

"Public schools up there before the turn of the century often taught students using German or Swedish, yet they all seem to have acculturized just fine. Wonder why?

Although I support protecting the position of English as the main and official language in United States I am uncomfortable about supressing usage of other languages outside of the classroom. It looks totalitarian to me.

And I am all for teaching other languages. I think that every American child should be fluent in at least one foreign language before finishing high school.

Because they wanted to be part of the USA not try to bring the USA down to their level. Keep the Spanish language; lose the country to the trash heap of balkanized countries.

Whoa! Spanish or German are not languages of the lower level than English. Give me a break.

[Hila]

ENGLISH only in schools will educate and send the message that "you are in America, where the English language is the official/native tongue". Yes, we must implement same treatment throughout our nation to bring back a reality check. The greatness of our nation is preserved in presenting the nation for what it is: an American society, a culture proud of its heritage, a people willing to receive other nations, but not be deluted in the process. I don't want to see other cultures take over who we are.

[Kaslin]

You know this requires a Good News Alert

[FITZ]

Uhm, the "native language" of Arizona isn't English. In fact, it isn't Spanish either. There were 19 separate cultures

19 separate cultures in Arizona ---people who couldn't communicate with one another nor identify with one another. The Indian nationS were easy to conquer because they were so fragmented. We shouldn't make the same mistake. One people from many.

[templar]

This is nonsense. Don't they realize that if we teach these people english they will end up competing with our children for the good jobs?

[Exit148]

"-------United States I am uncomfortable about supressing usage of other languages outside of the classroom. It looks totalitarian to me."

Try and think of recess as part of the school day and the playground just another classroom. It is a wonderful time and place to learn 'everyday-sort-of-words'. There isn't the tenseness of structure as in the actual classroom, and kids pick up language from each other quite easily -- especially at the grammar school age.

When exchange students come here from a variety of countries, they usually have learned English grammar in their own countries. But -- everyday English is a 'whole nother thing'. They don't get special instruction, but by the time they leave, at the end of the school year, they have picked up conversational English just by being immersed in it.