[Myrean]

This is super!

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!

[lawdude]

Damn dem socialists. Immersion is the best and fastest way to teach a language. Especially to children. And english speaking hispanics are far better prepared to go into the American society and be productive CITIZENS. When will they ever learn...when will they ever learn!

[RonF]

Funny thing. Talk to some old-timers in the northern part of the American Midwest, where there were a lot of German and Swedish immigrants. 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?

[Minutes]

shocked by Principal Lesa Thomas' request to keep Spanish out of their playground, cafeteria and hallways

Gee, I wonder why that request even has to be made. Last I checked, there was only one official in the US. If parents want their kids to speak some other language... go ahead, teach it to them.... tax dollars should be used to teach in English

[hgro]

Finally, some common sense is being used in trying to assimilate other cultures into American life. Hispanics for some reason think they are exempt from learning English.

[Illbay]

...keep Spanish out of their playground, cafeteria and hallways.

Sorry, but this is STILL, for now at least, a free country. You cannot tell someone they can't speak Spanish, I don't care what role they are playing at the time.

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

[PRND21]

Here's the great news...

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

"While the majority of our kids may speak English...

[steve-b]

We can't praise students in Spanish, either.

So what? Even kids who don't speak any other English should be able to pick up "good" and "bad" -- my cat can manage that much.

[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.

[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

[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!)

[Kaslin]

You know this requires a Good News Alert

[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?

[Hoppean]

English Only, English First BUMP!

[missycocopuffs]

"The goal is to model good English for the kids. We believe the more we model the sooner the students will learn English and the sooner they'll be successful."

Bump for common sense!

[The Iguana]

I don't see how kids can be stopped from conversing with each in Spanish on the playground or in the hallways or what have you.

For safety reasons it does make sense to have at least a few bilingual teachers on staff.

But above it does make sense to take the immersion approach to English instruction. And that means using it in all official settings - when conversing with teachers or principals, in the classroom, and so forth.

In the end, it's what's best for the children. If their English is poor, their prospects for success will be so as well.

[N. Theknow]

But, but, but, if they can keep e-speaking e-Spanish they can get rewarding jobs as food clerks in any airport.

[apackof2]

Principal Lesa Thomas you are this week's heroine!
That's a gutsy stand to take in PC America.
Do we have an address and/or(e-mail) to encourage her?

[CaptainAwesome]

if they want to speak in their native tongue then let them live in their native land. here we speak english.

[BJungNan]

School board member Andrew Sandoval, who teaches Spanish at Metro Tech, called the request "ridiculous."

"While the majority of our kids may speak English, there's a high percentage of monolingual kids coming into the schools who are more comfortable speaking with their friends in their native tongue," Sandoval said. "I see no problem with that.

Of course not, 'cause you wants ta teach 'em childrun theys no have a follow ta rules.

And this person is in a position of responsibility and authority?