Are We An English-Speaking Country......or Not?

I take it you agree with the disciplining being done here? I think this principal went too far. It's one thing to say all classes will be conducted in English, and if your English isn't good enough to pass,you repeat the same grade until you do pass. But it's something else to say that people can't speak Spanish to one another outside of class. Where I grew up, there were large Italian and Ukranian communities, and I heard these languages as often as English, outside of actual class instruction. No problem.

Maybe this principal was worried that if students were allowed to use their native language, they'd never learn English. But that's their problem, not hers.

 

White Conservatives? No. Conservatives. I don't care if they are white, black, brown or whatever.

- - - Updated - - -

I live around both and it doesn't bother me. Maybe the problem is you?

 

The bottom line is this principal wanted kids to learn American English so that they could be productive members of society. Then people are surprised progressive liberals would be against making them productive members of society?

 

Losing our borders, language and culture. It's our own fault. We suck.

 

This is the issue I see as well; conduct classes in English, that is reasonable, but don't tell the students they may not speak in another language outside of the class room. That goes too far.

 

And 'dollar' has its origins in Germany's 'thaler'.

 

"...take a dump on the white man..." Next you'll be telling us this isn't a racist comment.

 

I guess Hispanics don't need English language proficiency just to dig a ditch.

What were we thinking?

 

Exactly - and I discovered recently the abbreviation for pounds (Lbs) Is a contraction of a Latin word brought over during the Roman era. And you only have to look at the British Isles for the diversity of language that comes under the banner "English"

Then consider what some of the former colonies have done to the language and you understand how bizarre this thread really is

 

And of course you will present some evidence of this astonishing claim

 

Weird, students going to a school in the U.S. take offense to speaking the language this country runs on? I'll add for now, because if our ignorant Liberal friends have their say, we'll be bilingual soon enough....MORE votes baby!!! Isn't it wonderful that you're considered a bigot or racist if you don't learn SPANISH? You're the bad one, not adapting to the immigrants? WOW. Apparently requiring people living in this country or immigrating over to learn the native language or at least speak it in public at a place of learning is a horrible thing to do. ASTOUNDING!!!! Just another obvious sign that Democrats and Liberals are actively trying to convert us into South America. The funny thing is once enough Hispanics gain control, they will have NO PROBLEM at all requiring that everyone learn Spanish. Just wait.

 

Since you live with so much hate, may you continue to have such joy for the remainder of your life.

One day you will realise that the only person consumed with it is simply yourself.

 

Where was the 'hate' in his comment?

 

It would seem to me that we are, or there would be none of this in the citizenship process:

http://www.us-english.org/view/727


Seems the answer is pretty plain to see....while maybe not being politically correct. English please. if you ALSO speak other languages? Well hats off to you.

 

As easily as the word bigot or racist can be thrown around a liberal will use the word hate to describe anything written or spoken, they don't agree with. C'mon, catch on to the reprogramming=) After enough generations, its their goal to have anything they don't like stamped out, including English as our primary language. We are a nation of suckers, since we're the only major power that allows a minority to dictate how we act, speak, & think.

 

I would say that being able to speak english is probably the greatest single advantage any person in this world could be given, and this teacher should be commended for her efforts. After all, it is the teachers job to equip students for operating in the real world. How can speaking english possibly be a disadvantage for anyone, in any country? She cannot take the ability to speak spanish away from hispanic students, but she can (and should) require them to speak english in the classroom, and encourage them to do so everywhere else. Not because it's a law, or because it's the official language or whatnot, but because it prepares them for and is prerequisite to success in this country, and it offers them a significant advantage everywhere else in the world. And that is, precisely, what teachers are supposed to be doing.

 

But how long before becoming a citizen no longer requires you to learn English? It should't take much longer before bills are brought to the table that claim its bigoted and racist to require people to learn English. Besides, since when is becoming a citizen even a necessity to live here anymore? You can go your whole life and breeze on by illegally. Its not like any rights are restricted? Soon enough you''ll be able to get free healthcare....besides free ER visits and medical care that are already offered. We already provide free schooling, ect. Plenty of jobs that don't require you to speak English. I've eaten at Cafe's in the Miami area where I've didn't hear a word of English and the menu was all in Spanish. The sign outside was only Spanish. The hostess, wait staff and kitchen were all total Spanish. I felt like I was visiting Mexico. It was interesting but disturbing at the same time.

 

Or Kenya....

We are a interesting combination of cultures and languages. Personally, I think it's a hell of a stretch for anyone to construe that this mish-mash, low-brow, dumbed-down crap we speak in America today is anything like "English" in any accurate sense. Listen to us! Most conversations in contemporary "American" sounds like it is being spoken by ignorant morons....

Future guidance? Whatever software is written in most often will rule, planet-wide....

 

Correction; she lost her job for ordering students to never speak Spanish on campus. She didn't express any objection to any other language, foreign or native. It does seem to be quite specifically targeted and with apprently no stated justification.

Who said anything about being unable to speak English? The students are obviously taught in English and most of them will speak in English to many of the teachers or other students. If there are two bi-lingual people talking to each other though, it seems natural for them to use their first language, either by choice or instinctively. I don't see a problem with that in itself.

Were they explicitly banned from speaking English to each other though?

 

I see the "learning and speaking" English issue with hispanics as a win win for me. If these imigrants learn english and assimilate into American life and business, that is good for the country. If they don't, there will be less competition for the high paying executive level jobs out there for my kids.

 

All good points. I feel this way as well each time I have to choose my language at the ATM. Of course I'm not expected to pick German...Italian....Russian....Polish etc etc...nope.

English, Spanish or Portugese.

Sigh.

 

Don't Cubans in Miami......tend to vote Republican???

 

You are always all or nothing, aren't ya. I never said they should not learn English, but saying people should not be given the time to learn is pure stupidity. Yes, I bet you think all of them are ditch diggers and are pe'od that they are taking a job from an American such as yourself, but the reality many of them are skilled works such as in home construction, so not to worry.

 

We speak English, our laws are written in English, our traffic signs are in English.

There is little reason why the government should force people to accommodate non-English speakers.

 

Although immersion techniques are the best way to learn a language, no immiersion program mandates that the students speak said language all the time. It is usually done only in the classroom.

And that is the problem with the principle. She was demanding that students only speak one language whiile on campaus. It did not matter if it was in the classroom, a reasonable approach, or in the hallway, or in the recreation area, or in the bathroom. That is where she crossed the line and why she got into trouble.

- - - Updated - - -

Been to Chinatown? Little Todyo? Little Havana? El Mercado?

I will guarantee that the language there is written in more than language