Kansas: English-only lawsuit underway

[Robert Lawless]

The comments are a sad reflection on Kansas.

Harold Schiffman wrote:
> English-only lawsuit underway
> By Jessica Oakley
>
>
>
> Story Updated: Aug 12, 2008 at 7:33 PM CDT
>
> WICHITA, Kansas, August 12, 2008 – An English-only policy for
> students, implemented by the Catholic Diocese of Wichita at one of its
> schools, is the subject of a lawsuit that got underway in Federal
> Court Tuesday.
>
>
> A total of three sets of parents have filed suit against the Catholic
> Diocese of Wichita saying the English-only policy implemented at St.
> Anne Catholic School in south Wichita violates their children's civil
> rights. The Diocese maintains the policy had to be implemented because
> the students involved with this lawsuit were making fun of other kids
> in Spanish. Adam Silva, 11, one of the children involved with this
> suit took the witness stand.  His parents say he was kicked out of St.
> Anne last fall for refusing to sign the English-only policy.
>
> During his testimony, Adam got so emotional while discussing the
> discrimination he claims he faced for speaking Spanish, the judge
> ordered a recess.
>
> Clara Silva, Adam's mother, also testified.  She got very emotional,
> especially when discussing a hate-filled email she says was written by
> a student at St. Anne's and circulated around the school.  She says
> the email told Hispanic students to go back where they came from if
> they didn't like the English-only policy.
>
> The Diocese strongly maintains this is not a malicious policy, only
> one designed to prevent bullying.
>
> More testimony from children involved in the lawsuit is expected Wednesday.
>
> Mary Lou:  I think the English only in the school should be upheld,
> but I feel that the school should be working on bullying by English
> speaking students as well as Spanish speaking students. Cindy:  About
> the Catholic church lawsuit - unless those Spanish speaking kids are
> in Spanish class, they need to speak English.........this is America
> and our official language is English.
>
> Sheryl & Ron, Salina:   We believe that if you want to live in America
> you should speak the English in our school. We don't under stand why
> our country should bow down to speaking Spanish everywhere; their
> country sure wouldn't do the same for us if we lived there.
>
> Marty, Oxford:  I find it kind of ironic that the Catholic Church
> takes a one-language policy when so much of the religion is based in
> Latin....The whole outfit needs to get with the program. We're not a
> one language society.  It seems ironic that so much of the church is
> based on another language and then they take this English-only
> approach.
>
> Anonymous:  If English speaking people visit Mexico we are expected to
> either learn their language or use a translator. Why should it be any
> different for them when they come to the United States? It's unfair
> that Spanish speaking people can degrade English only speaking people
> just because we don't know their language. We were here first! Learn
> our language and use it to communicate with us or go back to a Spanish
> speaking country.
>
> Cori:  I happen to agree with the Catholic school's decision about
> English-only. The boy that took the stand today speaks English as a
> FIRST language, and Spanish as a second language. Bullying comes in
> many forms, and the school's decision to stop bullying in another
> language was a smart one. If the students can speak English, then they
> should have no problem with the rule.
>
> Neal: I believe that the English only policy should be held because of
> the fact that this is the USA and if you want to speak Spanish go to
> Mexico.
>
> Gloria:  English should be the main language spoken in the US and our
> schools. I think it is great to be fluent in other languages, but
> English should be the US and we should be proud to speak it.
>
> Sue, Wichita:  I feel that all schools should have only English
> spoken.  It is time for all to remember that this is America and we
> should only speak English.  They can speak Spanish at home.
>
> Linda, Wichita:  More school districts and businesses should follow
> suit and apply English only policies. This is the United States and
> the language is English. you go to any other country to live & work
> and you learn to speak their language or you don't work...tell them to
> get over it and speak English.
>
> Misty: Absolutely the diocese should uphold the English only rule! My
> mother-in-law came here from France not knowing a word of English. The
> very first thing she did was learn the language of our country. She
> was proud to be here and proud to learn the language. Anyone who comes
> here and doesn't want to or feel they need to learn to speak English
> should exercise another of our American freedoms and go back to the
> country that they are proud to speak the language of!! God Bless
> America!!!
>
> Jenny, Otis: It's a private school and the private schools should be
> able to set their guidelines and if you want to send your child
> there.....follow the guidelines! I wish our US public schools would do
> this to.  Want a foreign language class?  Offering Spanish, French and
> German is common; I guess they could offer English for those that wish
> to learn English.
>
> Cindy, Wichita:  I agree with the Catholic Diocese of Wichita and
> their stand on the English Only Policy.
>
> Hugh & Terry:  English only.
>
> Anne, Wichita:  I agree with St Anne's, this is the United States, AND
> a private school where we speak English.  The teachers who watch these
> kids at recess, on Church property should not have to learn Spanish to
> know that the kids aren't planning a shooting.
>
> Amanda, Valley Center:  As long as you live in America, I believe that
> you should learn the English language and I agree with the school of
> having an English only policy. In other countries you are expected to
> learn their language and there are no exceptions, it should be the
> same here. Besides you don't know what they are saying and for all you
> know they could be talking bad about another student.
>
> Cora, Wichita:  I agree with the Catholic Diocese of Wichita and their
> stand on the English Only Policy.
>
> Steve, Pratt:  I thought we had separation of Church and State? Why
> should the "Government" tell any Church what policies it can or can
> not have? If the Government wins this, should the file suit for prayer
> in public school???
>
> Dave, Hill City:  I think it's about time someone has the guts to
> enforce a policy like this. English always has been and should always
> be the one and only language recognized in this country. What language
> people want to speak in the privacy of their own homes is their own
> business, but any other language besides English in any establishment
> be it public or private should not be allowed. It only serves to
> segregate people and promote racial intolerance.
>
> Janet:  I think that people in American should speak English.  People
> in Mexico should speak Spanish.  It's that simple.
>
> Cecil, Wichita:  This is an English speaking country and in public or
> school English should be spoken.
>
> Shirley, Wichita:  This is a private school and as such certainly has
> every right to set their rules. If the rule is "English only" spoken
> within the total school arena, inside, outside and any school
> sponsored function, then that is the rule. Period. We live in a
> society where the rules are all for someone else. If the
> parents/students don't like the rules, go somewhere else. This isn't a
> moral right or wrong issue. It is a private school with the rules of
> the school.
>
> Carolyn, Wichita:  I hope St. Anne school continues with the 'English
> only' policy during school hours.
>
> Nancy, Wichita:  I can't imagine why the Hispanic parents think there
> is anything alright about their children, 6th graders (not toddlers),
> to denigrate other children in Hispanic or in English.  I also cannot
> understand why Hispanic people think everyone should learn their
> language and allow them to be here indefinitely without learning our
> language.  I wouldn't go to any other country expecting them to do
> that for me.  It seems to me that in the good old days people who
> immigrated to our country had to learn the language, know the history,
> know the constitution, pass a test, and pledge allegiance to this
> country to become a citizen, work here and take advantage of all the
> social services.  What happened to that policy?
>
> H.D.:  Good evening, if I recall right a few years back Congress
> declared English the official language of this country, that to me
> means that when the Spanish or any other foreign speaking people step
> out of their house or their car, it's English or keep your mouth shut.
> Any more when I go to the store I feel I'm in a foreign country,
> because I can't understand half of what is being said around me and
> it's time for it to stop. So yes the school is right to expect them to
> learn the language of this land and more power to em.
>
> Vicki:  In regards to the Catholic church having an English only
> policy I think it is great. I am tired of our country bending over
> backwards to Spanish people. In all the years of immigrants coming to
> this country we have never had to change our language to accommodate
> them. If you come to this country learn English like everyone before
> you had to. I think the church should have the right to decide what is
> spoke within their walls.
>
> Barbara:  The school is a Catholic school and had first amendment
> rights not controlled by the government. If they believe that it is
> important for their students to speak English so they can become
> successful members of the community then they have that right. If the
> parents do not like it they can send them to public school where they
> can speak their language and become a citizen that can not work at a
> good job. This country was built by immigrants that knew that to be
> useful and to succeed they needed to become an English speaking member
> of the community. My father was taught English by his brother and
> sisters so when it started school he would be able to success in
> school. We kept our German tradition at home but did not expect our
> neighbors to speak German to us but English.  I think that our Spanish
> speaking families need to grow up and realize that they are in the US
> where we speak English not in Mexico.
>
> Anonymous, Wichita:  The school did the right thing. They made the
> rule in response to a problem created by the Spanish speaking
> children.  The teachers and principal are responsible for what happens
> in the school. If they can't understand what the students are saying
> because the students are speaking a foreign language, then they can't
> do their jobs.  Also they need to use English more so that they can
> become more at ease with it and be better able to communicate with
> others. This is also a private school and you are not forced to go
> there. As far as the children becoming emotionally distraught I have
> no doubt that most of it was because the parents put them between a
> rock and hard place. Instead of teaching their children that there are
> rules to be followed and wanting their children to be better able to
> communicate in this society they chose to teach them that rules are
> for somebody else and that you don't need to learn how to communicate
> in English.  The parents are wrong.
>
> Jewell, Wichita: This is America-We speak English here-If they don't
> like it, go to a "Spanish-Only" school! After all, we don't go to
> Mexico (or anywhere else) and expect them to change everything for us!
>
> Mark, Wichita: The Catholic school has every right to have an English
> only policy at school (it is The United States).  If bi-lingual kids
> want to speak Spanish, that is what after school, the weekend and home
> is for.  Other bi-lingual kids (in something other than Spanish) speak
> their language at home and aren't suing the Catholic Church or school
> system.
>
>
> http://www.ksn.com/news/local/26886649.html
>
>
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