School gives out form in English? LAWYER UP!!!

[Venaly]

Immigrants should learn English before they come to America. Not knowing English is their fault, and they are making things more difficult for everyone. We shouldn't have to do everything in their language because they are too lazy to learn English.

"Too lazy" is a bit too harsh and a huge generalization. I think it's not that people are too lazy to learn English, but rather by the time they get here it's hard for them to learn it. English is a very hard language to learn if you haven't been exposed to it as a child. There are too many rules and exceptions, and then you have to factor in the fact that the language center in the brain starts to close up at an early age. That's why multilingual kids have an easier time picking up foreign languages than monolingual children. The language center of a multilingual child stays open longer than a child's who has only been exposed to one language for an extended period of time. I know all of this from psychology and from living it, since Spanish was my first language.

Next time you try to generalize, make sure you know what you're talking about

[Vitius]

If America has no official language, why should immigrants have to learn English? Majority language =/= official language.

What am I supposed to be proofreading, Farn?

"Your argument is legit invalid."

'Legitimately' would be a valid word to use...He's obviously using slang.

Saying 'Bro, what are you doing?' makes as much sense as 'Brother, what are you doing?'.

[Acuastriland]

Now don't get me wrong. I love immigration and think that immigrants should be allowed to keep at least parts of their culture but they should also respect us by learning our language and learning our culture.

[Franklin Delano Bluth]

If "they" live "here" it's their country, too...

Jumping over a border into another country doesn't mean you are from said country that you jumped over the border into.

Most Mexicans are immigrants, very few were actually born in the US.

What moral relevance does where you came from matter? After all, it's not like border controls or immigration restrictions are legitimate at all in the first place.

[Gyatso-kai]

I dont see that form was requested in Spanish, since school says they give out forms in other languages if requested.
That sounds reasonable enough. Since most common language is English: its logical to send out communications in English unless requested otherwise.

Agreed. Though, you would think the phone conversation between the parent who speaks little English and the principal would have gone like this:

Parent: ¿Hola?
Prinicipal: Hello, this is Principal Joe Everbody. May I speak with the parents of Suse Hispanic-Last-Name.
Parent: Si, this ees hees mother.
Principal: Yes. Unfortunately, Susie was caught smoking marijuana in the bathroom and we have to suspend her.
Parent: ¿Que?
Principal: Your daughter... Susie... She was caught smoking marijuana in the bathroom and we have to suspend her.
Parent: ¿Que?
Principal: Ma'am, do you understand English?
Parent: Oh, si si si. I speak good English... I have job?

...

Obviously, that is sarcastic... But still.

The issue I see is that the principal probably either called the parents and spoke to them, or sent the children home with the paperwork.

Now, if the principal spoke to the parents, he/her would at some point ask if they understand him/her, to which they would have a "Yes" or "No" response. The one girl who was caught smoking Mary J on campus (I am sure marijuana is the same in Spanish and English. I don't know... Speak four languages, oddly enough no Spanish >.< ) actually spoke with the principal, and the advocacy group says she was unable to ask questions because she didn't speak English fluently? I am sorry, but working in Florida with plenty of Spanish speakers (again... should really learn Spanish), whenever they do not understand what I am saying, they either turn to a family member (usually the child who is in school) or they simply say, "Oh, me sorry, señor, me no speaka English" and then I go get a co-worker who speaks Spanish, and we get this wonderful two-way conversation in Spanglish, since they know enough words in English to speak, but they prefer to be accommodated...

More than likely, the school sent little Susie/Ronnie (Two boys, one girl) home with paperwork, and they just handed it to their parents. Speaking perfect English, they pretended they had no idea what was going on and refused to help their mothers (since fathers are apparently absent here) hoping they wouldn't get in trouble. Seeing as the one boy is 12 and "learning disabled" while the other is wanting to be tested for "Special Education Services"... more than likely, this is what happened...

God Bless America, where we will give you every service in your language to make life easier for you, and still be sued because you didn't say "I no speak English" or "No hablo inglés", a phrase I am certain every American can understand as "I don't speak English," or "give me welfare", depending upon your political affiliation.

[Franklin Delano Bluth]

If Spanish is the language that they choose to use, them Spanish is the language the government ought to communicate with them in. It's the government's job to accommodate the people, not the other way around.

What if they choose to use Chinese? Or Arabic? Or Estonian?

Great!

[Farnhamia]

Now don't get me wrong. I love immigration and think that immigrants should be allowed to keep at least parts of their culture but they should also respect us by learning our language and learning our culture.

Allowed to keep parts of their culture? How very generous of you.

It's not disrespect. These are grown-up, working people. They probably can communicate on a basic level in English, but supporting their families takes priority. I have no problem with them wanting important information sent to them in a language they understand. Nor do I really care if they don't learn "our culture," whatever that is.

[Franklin Delano Bluth]

I don't understand. Being "from" a given country is what determines if it's "your" country your not? My grandfather was not "from" America - indeed he was by birth a Czechoslovakian (ethnic German, though). He came to America, served in World War II, got his purple heart, and stayed in for some years after the war, all without being a citizen. Is America somehow not "his" despite serving her more actively than many native born folks do?

If he was a true patriot he would have at least applied for citizenship. Otherwise he was technically not American.

Ehh, it's not like "patriotism" has any place in a free society...

[Franklin Delano Bluth]

I certainly agree that materials should be provided to accommodate for people speaking a foreign language in the U.S....But is a lawsuit really necessary? No.

A lawsuit isn't necessarily asking for monetary damages--it's any time you go to court to rectify a wrong. Sometimes it's just requesting an injunction.

[Samozaryadnyastan]

If America has no official language, why should immigrants have to learn English? Majority language =/= official language.

What am I supposed to be proofreading, Farn?

"Your argument is legit invalid."

I was going to say just invalid, then thought he might not take my point seriously.
Don't know why I figured he would take me more seriously after saying 'legit invalid', but meh.

[AiliailiA]

Now don't get me wrong. I love immigration and think that immigrants should be allowed to keep at least parts of their culture

Bravo.

but they should also respect us by learning our language and learning our culture.

Respect who? Aren't you mostly immigrants, or children of immigrants? Aren't you mostly speaking an immigrant language?

[Vitius]

I certainly agree that materials should be provided to accommodate for people speaking a foreign language in the U.S....But is a lawsuit really necessary? No.

A lawsuit isn't necessarily asking for monetary damages--it's any time you go to court to rectify a wrong. Sometimes it's just requesting an injunction.

Oh, of course. But it could've been done in a better fashion, especially with the evolution of social media sites. If they hadn't, they should've tried going to the media or FaceBook before filing a lawsuit.

[AiliailiA]

I certainly agree that materials should be provided to accommodate for people speaking a foreign language in the U.S....But is a lawsuit really necessary? No.

A lawsuit isn't necessarily asking for monetary damages--it's any time you go to court to rectify a wrong. Sometimes it's just requesting an injunction.

But someone has to pay the court costs, so it ends up being punitive one way or the other. Win or lose.

[Ifreann]

I certainly agree that materials should be provided to accommodate for people speaking a foreign language in the U.S....But is a lawsuit really necessary? No.

How else do you propose they seek redress?

---

Now don't get me wrong. I love immigration and think that immigrants should be allowed to keep at least parts of their culture but they should also respect us by learning our language and learning our culture.

You're welcome to your opinion. It's largely irrelevant, though. No amount of respect for "you" can make learning English any easier.

[Farnhamia]

I dont see that form was requested in Spanish, since school says they give out forms in other languages if requested.
That sounds reasonable enough. Since most common language is English: its logical to send out communications in English unless requested otherwise.

Agreed. Though, you would think the phone conversation between the parent who speaks little English and the principal would have gone like this:

Parent: ¿Hola?
Prinicipal: Hello, this is Principal Joe Everbody. May I speak with the parents of Suse Hispanic-Last-Name.
Parent: Si, this ees hees mother.
Principal: Yes. Unfortunately, Susie was caught smoking marijuana in the bathroom and we have to suspend her.
Parent: ¿Que?
Principal: Your daughter... Susie... She was caught smoking marijuana in the bathroom and we have to suspend her.
Parent: ¿Que?
Principal: Ma'am, do you understand English?
Parent: Oh, si si si. I speak good English... I have job?

...

Obviously, that is sarcastic... But still.

The issue I see is that the principal probably either called the parents and spoke to them, or sent the children home with the paperwork.

Now, if the principal spoke to the parents, he/her would at some point ask if they understand him/her, to which they would have a "Yes" or "No" response. The one girl who was caught smoking Mary J on campus (I am sure marijuana is the same in Spanish and English. I don't know... Speak four languages, oddly enough no Spanish >.< ) actually spoke with the principal, and the advocacy group says she was unable to ask questions because she didn't speak English fluently? I am sorry, but working in Florida with plenty of Spanish speakers (again... should really learn Spanish), whenever they do not understand what I am saying, they either turn to a family member (usually the child who is in school) or they simply say, "Oh, me sorry, señor, me no speaka English" and then I go get a co-worker who speaks Spanish, and we get this wonderful two-way conversation in Spanglish, since they know enough words in English to speak, but they prefer to be accommodated...

More than likely, the school sent little Susie/Ronnie (Two boys, one girl) home with paperwork, and they just handed it to their parents. Speaking perfect English, they pretended they had no idea what was going on and refused to help their mothers (since fathers are apparently absent here) hoping they wouldn't get in trouble. Seeing as the one boy is 12 and "learning disabled" while the other is wanting to be tested for "Special Education Services"... more than likely, this is what happened...

God Bless America, where we will give you every service in your language to make life easier for you, and still be sued because you didn't say "I no speak English" or "No hablo inglés", a phrase I am certain every American can understand as "I don't speak English," or "give me welfare", depending upon your political affiliation.

You didn't actually read the article linked in the OP, did you?

[AiliailiA]

No amount of respect for "you"

"Us". Bend your sentence to use the form Vitius used, or chances-are they will miss your point.

[Gyatso-kai]

-snip-

You didn't actually read the article linked in the OP, did you?

I did. Though maybe I should sue CNN for not providing me the article in ancient Greek...

(Yes, I read the article... What part of my satire was in conflict with said article? )

[Farnhamia]

No amount of respect for "you"

"Us". Bend your sentence to use the form Vitius used, or chances-are they will miss your point.

Nothing wrong with the "you." Acuastriland said immigrants should "respect us." Answering that with "respect for you" is perfectly appropriate.

[Farnhamia]

You didn't actually read the article linked in the OP, did you?

I did. Though maybe I should sue CNN for not providing me the article in ancient Greek...

(Yes, I read the article... What part of my satire was in conflict with said article? )

The entire phone call, for one thing. This is entirely about paperwork and your "satire" misconstrued the whole issue, besides being overdone. Satire is not easy to sustain at length.

[The Ancient and Orthodox Potato Church]

English will one day be the language of humanity anyway.

Chinese has a larger population. And with the imminent demise of the Anglo-Saxon economic way of life, English popularity will lose its raison d'etre.

[Farnhamia]

English will one day be the language of humanity anyway.

Chinese has a larger population. And with the imminent demise of the Anglo-Saxon economic way of life, English popularity will lose its raison d'etre.

The "Anglo-Saxon economic way of life"? What does that even mean?

[Ifreann]

Chinese has a larger population. And with the imminent demise of the Anglo-Saxon economic way of life, English popularity will lose its raison d'etre.

The "Anglo-Saxon economic way of life"? What does that even mean?

Cottage industry based in the English countryside, one assumes.

[Farnhamia]

The "Anglo-Saxon economic way of life"? What does that even mean?

Cottage industry based in the English countryside, one assumes.

Something to do with wool, I suppose.

[Vitaphone Racing]

There has to be some compromise where people are able to have translations made for them while still encouraging them to learn the language of the nation they are now living in. Learning the language is an essential part of respecting the culture.

[Farnhamia]

There has to be some compromise where people are able to have translations made for them while still encouraging them to learn the language of the nation they are now living in. Learning the language is an essential part of respecting the culture.

The issue here is not whether there were forms in Spanish. There were. The issue is, the school didn't send any information dealing specifically with the students being suspended home in Spanish.