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

[Greed and Death]

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.

Here is my beef with that, if the school automatically assumed every Latino student's parents only spoke Spanish would that not be racist?

[Simon Cowell of the RR]

If the forms had been in Spanish, would the families have sued for racism?

[Samozaryadnyastan]

If the forms had been in Spanish, would the families have sued for racism?

They were in Spanish. The issue at hand is that the blanks filled in by teachers (presumably for name, offence, length of suspension) were all written in English.

Though it ought to have been pretty clear, since 'marijuana' is supposedly of Spanish origin.

[Simon Cowell of the RR]

If the forms had been in Spanish, would the families have sued for racism?

They were in Spanish. The issue at hand is that the blanks filled in by teachers (presumably for name, offence, length of suspension) were all written in English.

Though it ought to have been pretty clear, since 'marijuana' is supposedly of Spanish origin.

That is fair, but the point still stands.

Also, having spent quite a lot of time in the bureaucracy of school administration, when you have a problem, you settle it in-house. Those parents must have been fantastically oblivious to not pick up on that.

[Katganistan]

http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/12/us/north-carolina-discrimination/index.html?is_LR=1

A few Latino parents are now going after a local school because, after their students were suspended, they didn't provide any information for them in Spanish.

Wut

Firstly, couldn't they have just spoken to someone who speaks Spanish at the school?

And, why is this necessary? Most people in the US, including Hispanics, certainly in Raleigh, speak English. I would never travel abroad to demand that the locals accommodate my English-speaking.

Fucking typical.

The fucking Mexicans, of course, are too fucking lazy to learn OUR LANGUAGE, and insist on us learning THEIRS.

Fuck them, this is our country, not theirs, we don't go to there country and start demanding they speak English, do we? No.

We do not.

So why the fuck do they think they can just walk into OUR COUNTRY and tell US TO SPEAK THEIR LANGUAGE!?

Fuck the Mexicans. They love their damn country, and they language, so fucking much, they can go back to their little corrupt shit hole.

*** Warned for trolling ***

[Katganistan]

New Kriegizstan, why do you hate America so much?

Knock off the flamebaiting.

[Kaleer]

Personally I side with the school on this... The parents aren't tourists, and America does in fact have an official language.

[Katganistan]

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?

Then you translate for them. It's not rocket science.

I don't think a school (or any other government agency) should be required to provide notices in every possible language the person might prefer.

I think there should be a reasonable delay in communications. Two days each way for written communication, another two days for the government authority to render their communication into the parent's preferred language. A five day delay in written communication isn't so bad. Written communication is inherently slow, it's one of the virtues of doing business by mail.

If there is some standard time for the parent to appeal the decision, that should be extended to allow the time for them to be engaged in their preferred language. Five days, plus however more than two days it took the government authority to reply in the preferred language.

Oh. So should they, I don't know, simply take kids away from parents and then wait a week or two to explain they haven't been kidnapped, they're with child services?

Or should you be slung in a cell for days on end without knowing why?

Because those are pretty much the same thing you're saying is just fine for people who don't speak English -- that they don't have a right to know what legal actions are being taken against them, or to have it explained in a timely manner so they can take care of the matter.

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

He did, but not until he was naturalized some years later. I'd be hard pressed to say he wasn't American, though - if you identify yourself as such and have a meaningful connection (such as permanent residence, military service, etc), that's good enough for me.

And fighting in the military is indeed one path to citizenship. Jeez. Not a true patriot.... Pretty asinine remark.

They might be, if their parents are Mexican citizens. Can't say I'm familiar with how Mexico does citizenship.

---

How utterly prejudiced. That these families are Latino does not mean they are just like your family.

What you seem to forget is that I know a lot of immigrants and they all say they came here because this country was in someway better than theirs.

Yeah? How many? (not that anecdotal evidence is worth anything.)

I work in a school in which their are kids from 80 countries. You better believe we can communicate with ALL their parents.

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.

You assume they have the expendable cash to spend on home computers, and the leisure of time to waste on Facebook.

[Individuality-ness]

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.

You assume they have the expendable cash to spend on home computers, and the leisure of time to waste on Facebook.

Not to mention having the patience to learn how to use one. That's a pretty big determent. My parents can't learn how to use a computer because they don't have the time or the patience to learn how to use it.

[Katganistan]

Then perhaps you need to be educated that ENGLISH is NOT THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF THE UNITED STATES.
There IS no official language of the United States.

And interestingly enough the language that did come closest to becoming the official US language was French. IIRC from an old newspaper article it was mentioned that a motion put to the Continental Congress to adopt French officially was defeated by one vote.

As I mentioned earlier: it was the language of diplomacy (and business).

[United Dependencies]

Personally I side with the school on this... The parents aren't tourists, and America does in fact have an official language.

Except, you know, that's not what the school said.

For all you people saying the school system should be able to print english only documents

"WCPSS staff, from the central office to the school level, are actively reviewing our practices to ensure we are meeting families' needs at every opportunity," spokeswoman Samiha Khanna said in a statement.

She added that the district was disappointed by the complaint, but eager to work with the Office of Civil Rights to resolve it.

http://www.wral.com/news/education/wake ... /11197415/

Doesn't sound like the school system is eager to take on that fight.

[Katganistan]

Personally I side with the school on this... The parents aren't tourists, and America does in fact have an official language.

[Souseiseki]

http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/12/us/north-carolina-discrimination/index.html?is_LR=1

A few Latino parents are now going after a local school because, after their students were suspended, they didn't provide any information for them in Spanish.

Wut

Firstly, couldn't they have just spoken to someone who speaks Spanish at the school?

And, why is this necessary? Most people in the US, including Hispanics, certainly in Raleigh, speak English. I would never travel abroad to demand that the locals accommodate my English-speaking.

Fucking typical.

The fucking Mexicans, of course, are too fucking lazy to learn OUR LANGUAGE, and insist on us learning THEIRS.

Fuck them, this is our country, not theirs, we don't go to there country and start demanding they speak English, do we? No.

We do not.

So why the fuck do they think they can just walk into OUR COUNTRY and tell US TO SPEAK THEIR LANGUAGE!?

Fuck the Mexicans. They love their damn country, and they language, so fucking much, they can go back to their little corrupt shit hole.

And fighting in the military is indeed one path to citizenship. Jeez. Not a true patriot.... Pretty asinine remark.

service guarantees citizenship~

[Souseiseki]

Personally I side with the school on this... The parents aren't tourists, and America does in fact have an official language.

i was worried about posting just an image but luckily you did it just before i did yay!

but really

this was in north carolina. the official language of north carolina is english. just because i feel like being a dick on the internet.

e: of course the fact there is an official language is meaningless anyway so lol

[Katganistan]

service guarantees citizenship~

Except in Starship Troopers, you weren't a full citizen of the country you were born in UNLESS you served.

[Katganistan]

(Image)

i was worried about posting just an image but luckily you did it just before i did yay!

but really

this was in north carolina. the official language of north carolina is english. just because i feel like being a dick on the internet.

I assume North Carolina is, in fact, in America, and its public schools are, in fact, covered under the federal laws concerning public education?

[Souseiseki]

i was worried about posting just an image but luckily you did it just before i did yay!

but really

this was in north carolina. the official language of north carolina is english. just because i feel like being a dick on the internet.

I assume North Carolina is, in fact, in America, and its public schools are, in fact, covered under the federal laws concerning public education?

see edit

[Samozaryadnyastan]

Then perhaps you need to be educated that ENGLISH is NOT THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF THE UNITED STATES.
There IS no official language of the United States.

And interestingly enough the language that did come closest to becoming the official US language was French. IIRC from an old newspaper article it was mentioned that a motion put to the Continental Congress to adopt French officially was defeated by one vote.

You have no idea how much I would love to see the US turn out if it spoke French.

[Risottia]

... Germany does this for Turkish parents ...

That's the pro way to do it.
Or one can do it the Italian way, and have the school just call a professional translator/cultural mediator... or just someone who teaches Spanish as foreign language... or has a bloody B2 level in Spanish...

And about official language: English being the official language does NOT constitute an obligation on citizens/residents to speak and understand English. It constitutes an obligation on the GOVERNMENT, that is, the government and the public services have to understand English.

[Risottia]

You have no idea how much I would love to see the US turn out if it spoke French.

OMG... but then the US would have had to adopt a blue-white-red flag! And welcome French troops on their land! THE HORROR! THE HORROR!

[Samozaryadnyastan]

You have no idea how much I would love to see the US turn out if it spoke French.

OMG... but then the US would have had to adopt a blue-white-red flag! And welcome French troops on their land! THE HORROR! THE HORROR!

Didn't France help them win the Revolution?

[Serrland]

OMG... but then the US would have had to adopt a blue-white-red flag! And welcome French troops on their land! THE HORROR! THE HORROR!

Didn't France help them win the Revolution?

Hence the link to the Marquis de Lafayette link. He's a pretty big national hero here, despite being a Frenchman.

[Farnhamia]

Didn't France help them win the Revolution?

Hence the link to the Marquis de Lafayette link. He's a pretty big national hero here, despite being a Frenchman.

He single-handedly chased the British into Yorktown and twisted Cornwallis' nose. *nod*

[Serrland]

Hence the link to the Marquis de Lafayette link. He's a pretty big national hero here, despite being a Frenchman.

He single-handedly chased the British into Yorktown and twisted Cornwallis' nose. *nod*

Best not forget the part about dipping his wig in caviar. Smelled something awful for weeks!

[The UEG-Space Command]

I am not going to lie, seeing Spanish secondary writing or something usually annoys me (for various reasons) but I live with it, but they should as well, but if they want a form in Spanish they should get one.