(non)English-language learners...

[cebeu]

Number of English-language learners on the rise in Colorado

By Jeremy P. Meyer
The Denver Post
Posted: 02/05/2010 01:00:00 AM MST
Updated: 02/05/2010 03:09:15 AM MST

http://www.denverpost.com/ci_14337738 (http://www.denverpost.com/ci_14337738)

QUOTE: “One of the most vexing problems in public education is how to teach students who are not fluent in English.”

My question: Why? Why is this “most vexing?” This should not even be an issue, let alone a “vexing one.”

Oh…yeah…one of my answers (dumbass me); QUOTE: “Denver's bilingual program has been under a federal court order since 1999 to offer native-language instruction for English learners — the result of a lawsuit by Latino parents who alleged DPS discriminated against their children by segregating them…”

At the risk of coming across as callous and uncaring, and I do sincerely feel for youngsters caught-up in poor decision processes by their purported parents, this should not even be a discussion point for the Colorado (and American) constituency. Not my problem yet…politicians, the legal system and a burdensome culture of PC garishness make it mine (ours) to bear. Not just here in CO but across the nation.

How about this solution; throw out the court order (easier said than done) and if you’re a parent, you do whatever it takes to make sure your off-spring are prepared to learn in English. Not me, not the US / State educational systems, not the legal system…you. You put this obstacle in-front of your child via life decisions you made, you fix it. Go spend your money, your time and you do whatever you have to do to ensure your child can sit in a US classroom and be able to leverage all of the value and opportunity that privilege affords. Like it or not the language is English, at least for a few more years. And if one suggests they are "doing what it takes for their tike" by exploiting the Legal system to force institutional & budgetary compliance to implement parallel language systems as a solution, think again, your nothing but a drain on a once great society and you are a large part of the problem.*

Lastly, before anyone “goes Latino” on me and/or tries to tie this solely to legal/illegal immigration from Mexico, no, this dumbass mandate is much broader in context and should have far-reaching implications for all languages. Correct? That’s only fair, for all disenfranchised non-English speakers correct? Think about this fact, there are ~6500 spoken languages,~ 4000 of which have a substantial speaking population, who gets to decide who wins and who loses re: “bi-lingual” offerings in CO classrooms?

* DISCLAIMER: This rant has nothing to do with multi-lingual, multi-cultural curriculum and/or optional tracks promoting second language learning.

[Irving]

I met a five year old girl last year who was born here and didn't speak any English. I said, "You're fucking kidding me right?"

Usually I try not to swear around children, but I don't think she understood me. ;)

[Troublco]

If you're gonna live here, you should have to speak the predominate language that is spoken here. Same if you lived in Germany, or Italy, or Latvia, or wherever.

[BigBear]

A lot of teachers in TX are now being required to take Spanish and become conversationally proficient in it... Several have been fired for "not meeting their duties" as they refused to learn it. This being the way administration has decided to teach those who refuse to learn the English language.

I go live in Italy, I will want to learn Italian if I want to have any success. Come to America.... speak whatever you want.

On a sidenote, I've been to Mexico, Russia, Germany, Italy, and several other countries... and a significant portion of their populations speak conversational English.

I even know of some mexicans who refuse to speak english in presence of the "white man" but they won't speak Spanish in their familial structures...

PC at it's best.

[Irving]

Firing teachers who don't learn a language in order to interact with kids who's parents won't learn a language. Irónico

[theGinsue]

A buddy of mine is currently going through a divorce. His wife of 7 years is originally from Taiwan. He met her several years back here in Colo Spr. I don't know the specifics, but she and her family got here and then her first husband died.

While not the easiest to understand, she speaks English well enough, BUT... she HAD to have an interpreter for the divorce proceedings - which my buddy expects to pay for. More BS to tax the legal system.

When I got stationed in Korea (South), I got myself into a Korean language class within a few weeks of arrival because I felt it was MY responsibility to learn their language and not the other way around. I'm so offended by the PC concept that we need to adapt to the customs of everyone else.

Oh yeah, and I'm really sick of pressing 1 for English and selecting English as my language @ the ATM!

<end of rant>

[Irving]

I've got Rosetta Stone, but it is something that you have to do every day. Since I'm not in school anymore, I don't really have the will power to do stuff every single day.

My wifey speaks Spanish and when she calls for the cable, cell phone, utilities, or whatever, she sometimes selects the Spanish option because the wait times are often shorter.

[KevDen2005]

Try this one:

You don't speak english? How 'bout I tow your f**@ing car?!

Just see how fast they learn English!

[theGinsue]

Oh, that's priceless!

[BPTactical]

You know I remember when the whole "English as a second language" topic was brought up a few years ago. I was listening to one of the AM talk shows and an older gal called in with some comments. It went something like this:( I am paraphrasing so bear with)

"My parents immigrated from Italy in the early 1920's. They came in through Ellis Island and did the entire citizenship routine. I can remember asking my mom when I was young why we didnt speak Italian or really celebrate Italian customs the way I saw other families do. My mother scolded me sternly and said: "We are no longer Italian. We are Americans now and have the obligation to speak English and learn the ways of our new home and country."

It seems that we have lost a lot through the years[Rant1]

My sister works for the school district in Jackson Hole Wyo running the "Special Needs" program. About 4 years ago she and her daughter went to Mexico City and lived with a host family. The purpose of this? She was sent by the district to learn the customs and language of Mexico because they have so many up there working.
I thought WTF?

I am sooooo over this "Political Correctness" crap. I get it at work- I get it on the drive home-I get it at home watching the tube-I get it when I read the newspaper on Sunday morning.

I thought in America you were free to speak your mind.
In Amerika you cant I guess.

Our country is dying a slow death.
Of a cancer called Illegal Immigrants.
They are draining our resources like nothing else.
And our government will do nothing about it. In fact they encourage it. The Dems want the votes and the Repubs want the cheap labor.

[BPTactical]

Try this one:

You don't speak english? How 'bout I tow your f**@ing car?!

Just see how fast they learn English!


You must be da Repo man!

[theGinsue]

Our country is dying a slow death.
Of a cancer called Illegal Immigrants.

I wouldn't particularly catagorize the death as "slow"!

Everthing else I agree with 100%

[Ed_S]

One thing that worries me about this country is how pathetically soft we are we it comes to not wanting to offend or discriminate!

What do I mean, well is there any other country that bends over backwards to make it as easy to live in! The answer – no!

In my opinion, you want to live here, fine. Adopt the language and customs. I’m an immigrant and I adopted the customs although it’s been a challenge to teach you all correct EnglishJ

I even buy American cars! Well you have to have a truck and an SUV both with V8’s after growing up with tiny English carsJ

My AR-15 is also a Colt, can’t get any more American than that! Plus it didn’t come with bi-lingual instructions.

[GreenScoutII]

I speak reasonable Spanish. I picked it up from years of working in construction. Typically, the trades which require licensing at a state level (plumbers and electricians) will be entirely English speaking. Every other trade seems to be dominated by Mexicans or eastern Europeans. The Bosnians, Slavs, Ukranians, etc. seem to learn English pretty quickly as do the Mexicans who came here LEGALLY. It is the vast numbers of illegals who fail to learn the language here. Unfortunately the government is focusing on only half of the problem. If there was no one hiring guys without proper documentation, there would be little reason for them to come here.

Just to be clear, I have no beef with Mexicans due to their ethnicity. As I stated previously, I have worked with a bunch of them over the years and these guys are damn hard workers who simply want to provide a better life for their families. Hell, if I came from a country where I had no future, I'd bug out for greener pastures too. When I got there though I damn sure wouldn't expect them to provide everything in English just for my benefit. I'd learn the language. Just makes sense.