Iowa: Protest of language test gets student suspended

[Francis Hult]

Des Moines Register

 

Protest of language test gets student suspended

 

A Storm Lake teenager was suspended from school this week because she refused to take a test for students who are not fluent in English.

 

Lori Phanachone, the U.S.-born daughter of immigrants from Laos, says she proved her grasp of English in other ways. The Storm Lake High School senior has a near-perfect grade-point average and acceptance letters from two Iowa colleges.

 

But because she listed Lao as her first language on a school registration form, Phanachone said administrators forced her to take a test for students who lack basic English skills.

 

"I'm all for help where it's needed, but for you to generalize everyone who speaks a second language, that's so degrading," said Phanachone, 18, who also might miss her school prom and track season.

 

Full story:

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090306/NEWS02/903060369/-1/ENT05/Protest+of+language+test+gets+student+suspended

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