Skip to comments.
School tells teachers to speak English only
Arizona Republic ^
| August 19, 2002
| Maggie Galehouse
Posted on 08/19/2002 9:57:14 AM PDT by 4America
Edited on 05/07/2004 5:21:02 PM PDT by Jim Robinson.
[history]
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.
(Excerpt) Read more at azcentral.com ...
TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Free Republic; Front Page News; Government; Mexico; News/Current Events; US: Arizona
KEYWORDS: aboutdamntime; assimilation; englishlanguage; hispanics; illegalimmigrants; immigration; schools; unitedstates
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80, 81-90 next last
To: 4America
"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.
21
posted on
08/19/2002 11:17:59 AM PDT
by
mhking
To: MacDorcha
crap this comp is slow.... i hit the enter key twice, sorry bout the double entry
To: mhking
"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.
23
posted on
08/19/2002 11:21:29 AM PDT
by
4America
To: Myrean
" 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?
24
posted on
08/19/2002 11:40:00 AM PDT
by
mykej
To: RonF
Perhaps their principals weren't as stupid as Lisa Thomas.
To: 4America
"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
To: lawdude
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?
27
posted on
08/19/2002 12:09:05 PM PDT
by
gunshy
To: steve-b
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?
28
posted on
08/19/2002 12:39:38 PM PDT
by
Illbay
To: mykej
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.
29
posted on
08/19/2002 1:03:40 PM PDT
by
Myrean
To: Illbay
"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!
To: gunshy
"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?
31
posted on
08/19/2002 7:39:51 PM PDT
by
lawdude
Comment #32 Removed by Moderator
To: 4America
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!)
To: glc1173@aol.com
"Get the sticker"
And have your car vandalized. SOME of them can read english.
To: Wurlitzer
"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.
35
posted on
08/20/2002 6:48:38 AM PDT
by
A. Pole
To: Illbay
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.
36
posted on
08/20/2002 7:29:33 PM PDT
by
Hila
To: 4America
You know this requires a Good News Alert
37
posted on
08/20/2002 7:35:25 PM PDT
by
Kaslin
To: mykej
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.
38
posted on
08/20/2002 7:37:16 PM PDT
by
FITZ
To: 4America
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?
39
posted on
08/20/2002 7:41:56 PM PDT
by
templar
To: A. Pole
"
-------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.
40
posted on
08/20/2002 8:01:02 PM PDT
by
Exit148
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80, 81-90 next last
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.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson