The Wahluke School District in Mattawa, Grant County, is 88 percent Hispanic. State-mandated assessment tests (WASLs) show that for 10th graders, 61.3 percent demonstrate proficiency in reading, 28.3 percent in math, 50 percent in writing, and 20.8 percent in science. (Curiously, the test scores link on the district's main page above - titled "School's Report Cards" - goes to the state-wide averages, not the district's scores).
Mastery of the English language is essential to raising the percentage of students proficient in all those subjects. For practical reasons, and modelling purposes, It would help if the huge majority of Hispanic parents in the district predominantly spoke English at home, and especially did so at school board meetings, when they are trying to communicate about important school matters.
Mush-headed multi-culturalists do Hispanics in the U.S. no favors by pandering to a supposed inability to learn the language. The Tri-City Herald reports today that Hispanic parents in the Wahluke district have been insisting on Spanish language interpreters at school board meetings, and problems have resulted, frustrating all concerned.
MATTAWA -- After a recent school board meeting degenerated into a shouting match, Wahluke School District administrators are trying to communicate better with Spanish-speaking parents. Although the altercation only was verbal and no one was hurt at last week's meeting at Saddle Mountain Intermediate School, police were called, said acting Superintendent Cecilia Mahre.....Parents have asked that school board agendas and event calendars be provided in Spanish. They are also asking for a certified interpreter during school board meetings. The parent group also wants to form a parent-teacher association, to have school board meeting notices posted at Hispanic businesses and is asking that district newspaper ads list school events in Spanish.
Mattawa parent Martin Ramirez said the Washington State Commission on Hispanic Affairs has agreed to work with Mahre and school board members to provide the interpreter and information in Spanish...The dispute at the May 11 meeting was apparently caused when....a translator wasn't able to keep up with the rapid questions, and some parents apparently became frustrated....On Tuesday, Ramirez apologized for the group's behavior. "This group just started a month ago and we needed to learn how a meeting runs and how to behave," he said. "That's our goal, to get better and to work for our kids."
Then they should all learn English well enough to participate in a local school board meeting.
Posted by Matt Rosenberg at May 19, 2006 10:42 AM | Email ThisBut the parents who may be new immigrants cannot just instantly learn english, but they do/should instantly want to know what is going on in their children's school. So information and translators should be allowed. The documentation copying should be paid for by the school (this would be copied to be sent to the parents anyway, what language is on the paper should not matter), but the additional translation services - both for copy and live - should not be paid by the school.
Posted by: Fred on May 19, 2006 11:06 AMIt is time English is made the OFFICIAL language of the US, not a "common" language. The school board in this situation should grow a spine and refuse to provide the interpreter and materials in Spanish. If the parents are that insistent on isolating themselves, then it should be up to them to pay for interpreters and translation services. Take away the crutch and even the liberals will be surprised at how many will suddenly decide learning English is not a bad thing.
We need to stop pandering to every group that takes up residence in this country but then insists on that the rest of us communicate with them on their terms. Hey, if you want to come here to be a citizen, then that means learning English and the customs of our great country. If you don't want to do these things, then leave.
For the liberals who are going to yip about "tolerance" and "diversity", grow up! What kind of job would you get if you moved to Germany or Turkey and then refused to learn the language? It's a sure bet it wouldn't be close to anything you have stateside because of the communication barrier.
Posted by: Burdabee on May 19, 2006 11:21 AMMy Mom worked in elementary schools for more than 30 years. We argue about this issue sometimes. One of her observations was that, in one special school, there were over 40 different languages for the students.
She also spoke of times where teachers, by the end of the school year, were buying their own copier paper and other supplies for their classrooms.
If we take money from the students to translate and copy papers into many different languages, does that result in a reduced education for the kids.
Weren't legal immigrants required to have some level of ability in English? Weren't they supposed to have a sponsor? Wouldn't the sponsor be able to effectively act as a translater?
If the parents are serious about their kids' education, how could they possibly assist their kids with homework if they never learn the language?
Posted by: SouthernRoots on May 19, 2006 11:24 AMMy point was that IF the school is sending materials to parents I do not see a problem with the school copying the Spanish/Chinese/Korean/Russian/German/Vietnamese/etc./etc. versions - a copy needs to be made one way or another.
I tried to say, obviously not very well, that the school should not pay for the translation services.
Posted by: Fred on May 19, 2006 11:40 AMYou and what army? The Klan? The Aryan "Nations?" Get on out of here, you gutter trash, and take "Amused" with you.
Posted by: private24 on May 19, 2006 11:45 AMI'll take a wild guess and say the parents would suddenly be perfectly okay with how the school/board/district operated...
Posted by: nospam on May 19, 2006 12:24 PMHaving said that, I must wholeheartedly disagree with Matt's and other commenters' implied contention that kids must be raised in English spoken home. I, too, am a first generation immigrant, and the language of choice at home is Korean. My kids have no problem with English nor have they had any problem picking up English even though they practically spoke no English when they entered pre-school. It is matter of home atmosphere where the importance of education is emphasized and learning activities are supported to its fullest. Sure, it'll help if parents could proficiently communicate in English, but I've seen far too many friends with very limited English but exceptional success with their children's education through hard work and willingness to go the extra mile.
The reason many fail such as those in Mattawa is because they become dependent on the school and the government to provide 100% of their children's education and future growth, and that has very little to do with kids having a home where English is spoken all the time.
Posted by: C. Oh on May 19, 2006 12:31 PMIt's ironic that you ask that, because many (not all) American expats don't learn the language of the country they're working in. Of course these American expats are typically well-educated executives who are employed by multinational firms who will tolerate their language limitations. Indeed, in my extensive travels, for both business and pleasure, people all over the world have worked much harder to communicate with me in English than I have to communicate with them in their language. Face it, we English-speakers have it made.
Sure, someone moving to the US for an extended period would be wise to learn English. On the other hand, it's not so easy, especially if they're poor, poorly-educated, and overwhelmed with earning enough money to just survive. I suppose some immigrants are just lazy about learning English, but in most cases I suspect they're doing their best. I'm sure they'd happily trade places with you, who (I assume) got your US citizenship and English skills through no great effort on your part. That doesn't mean immigrants are entitled to coddling, but let's start with a bit of empathy.
The practical question for our society is whether we will be stronger if we make the effort to reach out to immigrants who bring rich cultures, a strong worth ethic, a love for our country, and in this case a desire to be involved in their childrens' educations -- but often not great English skills.
I suspect the Wahluke school administrators are doing the right thing for their students.
Posted by: Bruce on May 19, 2006 12:36 PMYou are wasting your breath on these scum. They have no empathy. They are racist trash. The world is moving too quickly for them and they cannot cope. So they lash out with hatred. It is the way of the world.
Immigrants will learn English, as they always have done, because by and large they have made more money by doing so. Most immigrants realize this. But sometimes, as you say, making a living comes first.
When the immigrants learn English, become cititizens, and start voting, they will remember, because we will remind them, that it was the Matt Rosenbergs and Burdabees of the world who tried to make it tough on them.
Posted by: private24 on May 19, 2006 01:07 PMThat being said, I have had the chance to work with people from other cultures who came to this country for the opportunities we offered. A few even left everything behind. Most still speak their native tongue at home, but all realized matering English was the key to opening more doors. There are still barriers, like boneheads who are impatient with anyone who has a thick accent and idiomatic expressions that don't translate well. But these people didn't let that stop them from becoming skilled enough to pass tests like a nursing or securities exam.
I am all for funding programs to get immigrants up to speed on effective English skills. And there is nothing wrong with translation services being provided on occasion. But what the parents at Wahluke are asking for is a permanent fix, not a temporary step.
As for the people who work overseas and don't want to learn the local language, that's just sad. It limits who you deal with both during and after work. Like my daughter found out when she was stationed in Germany, most of her contemporaries decided they would rather sit in the bar than get to know about their temporary home.
Posted by: Burdabee on May 19, 2006 01:15 PMPosted by private24 at May 19, 2006 01:07 PM "
I love this one!
"So they lash out with hatred." This coming in the same loving, empathetic, tolerant, paragraph as "You are wasting your breath on these scum. They have no empathy. They are racist trash."
If that doesn't sum up a lib, nothing does.
Posted by: Fred on May 19, 2006 01:33 PMWhile I agree that many expats don't learn the native tongues of whatever country they live in (something that I find a bit insulting towards that nation)... there is a world of difference between not learning their langueage, and demanding that they provide all their services in yours. If these folks in Wahluke don't want to learn English, then fine, but they should learn to deal with the consequnces. Yes, I realise it's tough to do when they're trying to just make a living... but no one forced them to uproot everything and bring their families to the U.S. There are consequences to doing that... the biggest being that we speak a different language than Mexico. If I moved to a rural part of Mexico and demanded that the local government services be provided to me in English, every bad stereotype about the "Ugly American" would be applied towards me, and rightfully so.
Posted by: Mike H on May 19, 2006 01:39 PMWhy is it that people the believe that it's best for people to do things for themselves rather than have it handed to them is better for society are racist?
Just questions....
As for needing an interpreter....why don't the spanish parents do that themselves? Do none of them know how to speak english? Can't they help their fellow parents? That is what should be done. That is what America is about....giving those that need a helping hand some help or sacrificing time to help others.
Most lib's believe that the Government should take care of all and as we have seen Socialism and Communism do not work and the people ruled this way are worse off.
Posted by: Dengle on May 19, 2006 01:50 PMWell, I've never been a member of the Klan nor the Aryan Nation, so limiting the 'army' to those groups reveals how little you know of the anger stirring in a lot of people.
But by all means, keep poking the stick.
Posted by: jimg on May 19, 2006 02:33 PMFred astutely noted the Liberal Projection (tm) that sums up what passes for the liberal "mind". Take every screwed up, twisted notion and (attempt to) imprint on your opponent. Fact is, the only true and flagrant racists I've ever known were liberal Dhimmicrats. Most of them are, they just won't admit it (why should they - they've been so successful at snowing others about their hypocritical nature).
It is apparent that what the mexicans in Mattawa want is for someone other than themselves to pay for the extra tutoring their children need. Sounds like Dhimmicrats to me! Normal people would dig in and pay their own way!
Posted by: alphabet soup on May 19, 2006 03:28 PMThe Constitution requires that minor children be educated at public expense, regardless of whether or not the children (or their parents) are legally present in the United States.
So I think the CITIZENS of Grant County should pay for reasonable levels of language interpretation, if there are languages that a significant percentage of the RESIDENTS of the county are speaking other than English (such as Spanish).
Posted by: Richard Pope on May 19, 2006 07:28 PMWhat I'm saying here is that it doesn't take much to pick up the language, especially if you are immersed in a society that utilizes the language. Just being exposed to Russian as totally as I have has led to pick up quite a few idioms and words (my tenses and all that still suck), as well as an ability to read cyrillic. In fact, I have to keep myself *willfully ignorant* in order to not speak Russian at home (My reason for this is simple: my 15 month old son, and my desire for him to grow up speaking english. Of course, his relatives still speak to him in Russian, Uzbek, Kyrgyz, and Arabic, so I may end up with either one obscenely lingual son or one really really confused one...). I think that's what's happening here: People who immigrate solely for the economic benefits are not interested in immersing themselves in the culture and becoming "American". They want the dollars, but not the society. Animals in nature that associate with others animals in such a manner are called parasites.
Sure, these parents can't possible learn English overnight. No one really expects them to do it overnight. But they are seeking government assisstance to help them remain *willfully ignorant*. They should be requesting English teachers for themselves.
Oh, and who made the obscene comment about expats being CEOs or working for large multinationals? LOL. Most expats I've ever met have been former military or retired from other government agencies.
Posted by: Aaron on May 19, 2006 07:45 PMMy great-great grandfather immigrated to the U.S. from Germany in 1863. He married a German-American and had kids. They would not, for any reason, speak German in the home. Their mindset was, "We're in the United States; they speak English here, and so we're going to speak English and only English. We've put German ways behind us."
If an immigrant family wants their kids to still know Spanish (or whatever their mother tongue is), then fine: one parent can speak to them entirely in English, and the other in Spanish: TaDa! Bilingual kids! But for them to only speak their native tongue is robbery at its finest.
Posted by: Cydney on May 20, 2006 03:33 PMWell, looking back on it, I guess that part justified having italics.
Posted by: Cydney on May 20, 2006 03:35 PMCertainly you are capable of discerning the distinction between traveling on business or as a tourist in foreign countries, and immigrating there to stay?
Subsidizing ignorance is unhealthy, and that is what the Wahluke school administrators are doing. Twinks like private24 want to give themselves “Mr. nice guy” badges for pandering to the scheme of other liberal morons who have a vested interest in keeping people stupid enough to vote democrat.
Can’t blame them, that’s the only way liberals can win.
That doesn't make it a good thing for America. Quite to the contrary.
You are so right. Illegals have been taught by our media and the liberal elite that Americans are big fat pink babies with horn rimmed glasses posing at intellectual virtue but cowed by whining foolish sentimentality and mock generosity. Liberals are generous -- they will give away all kinds of stuff so long as it is someone else's and the illegals are willing to take it.
Its too bad we can't exchange liberals for mexican immigrants with clean records. Then we'd have real immigration reform.
America would get people who will do the work in America that the lazy liberal portion of our culture refuses to do, and we'd offload our morons in the bargain.
That said, I've worked with a large number of immigrants, and I have yet to see very many who can't speak any English at all. It's not an all-or-nothing proposition. You learn just like any other skill: by degrees. And when you're learning a language by immersion in an unskilled workplace like a potato plant, you're probably not going to have the vocabulary and fluency necessary to follow a school board meeting. I've taught five languages and studied a few more, some of which I'm pretty fluent with, but there have still been times when I'd have preferred to deal with something in English, simply to make sure I was understanding correctly.
And as a CITIZEN (per Richard) of Grant County, I have no problem with people having to learn English as they go, and with helping them out in Spanish when they're out of their depth. As a citizen of the United States, I'm kind of embarrassed that my countrymen are, by and large, too ignorant to learn other languages, and so arrogant that they actually consider such ignorance a point of superiority.
Posted by: Joel on May 23, 2006 08:41 AMWhat a presumptuous twink.
Your ferret/opinion analogue explicates your own opinion better than anything else.
You don't have any idea how many languages people here speak, not that it matters.
Take your arrogant irrelevant nonsense and empallier it up your recto, mein herr.