What is the official language of the United States?

[concerned]

They want to hire teachers to teach kids who don't know the english language in PUBLIC schools! Children who do not know the english language BEFORE entering public schools SHOULD NOT BE LET IN. Learn the language - then come to school. This is our wasted tax dollars at work again.

[Please explain]

Who, exactly, would TEACH these kids how to speak English?

[The Swimmer]

There was a time (until 1965) when folks had to have a rudimentry command of the English language before being admitted to this country.

You can thank Ted "The Swimmer" Kennedy for the law 44 years ago that opened the illegal alien flood.

[concerned]

Please explain wrote:

Who, exactly, would TEACH these kids how to speak English?

Teachers in the school district. The teachers in the public school systems would have to know how to speak spanish to help those who cannot english. They would teach them how to speak english.

[Confused]

concerned wrote:

<quoted text>
Teachers in the school district. The teachers in the public school systems would have to know how to speak spanish to help those who cannot english. They would teach them how to speak english.

So, are you saying that teachers are being required to speak Spanish? Wouldn't you WANT the students to be taught English? Don't some families come here legally with children who only know their native language? If they weren't allowed in school, by no fault if their own, where would these students go to be educated? Or would you prefer they don't get educated at all?
I think your prejudice is clouding your judgment.

[concerned]

Confused wrote:

<quoted text>
So, are you saying that teachers are being required to speak Spanish? Wouldn't you WANT the students to be taught English? Don't some families come here legally with children who only know their native language? If they weren't allowed in school, by no fault if their own, where would these students go to be educated? Or would you prefer they don't get educated at all?
I think your prejudice is clouding your judgment.

I guess I know why you chose "confused" for your name! You are truly confused! I DO want the kids to be taught english, but NOT on my dime! I want them to learn the language BEFORE entering the school system. They would have to hire some outside source to teach them the language. If I moved from here to Italy, I would not expect the Italians to have to speak ENGLISH for my sake! I would have to learn Italian to survive. Life's rough - try to get through it!

[Not really confused]

concerned wrote:

<quoted text>
If I moved from here to Italy, I would not expect the Italians to have to speak ENGLISH for my sake! I would have to learn Italian to survive. Life's rough - try to get through it!

Don't you think the person teaching you Italian would have to know English, even just enough to communicate with you?
Again, why would you withhold an education from a child whose parents brought them here? Why should the child suffer? What good is it to deny them an education?

[Appalled]

Not really confused wrote:

<quoted text>
Don't you think the person teaching you Italian would have to know English, even just enough to communicate with you?
Again, why would you withhold an education from a child whose parents brought them here? Why should the child suffer? What good is it to deny them an education?

I think you are missing the point.

If you label everything in Spanish, hire teachers who speak Spanish and generally make things easier, what is the motivation to learn the language? I can see taking the child out of the classroom for additional language skill practice just as they do for speech, reading and social skills but to accomodate the non-English speaking population by making it a requirement to speak Spanish to teach is not a good educational solution. Solutions are found out of necessity. Don't take away the necessity.

[You Are Insensitive]

Appalled wrote:

<quoted text>
I think you are missing the point.
If you label everything in Spanish, hire teachers who speak Spanish and generally make things easier, what is the motivation to learn the language? I can see taking the child out of the classroom for additional language skill practice just as they do for speech, reading and social skills but to accomodate the non-English speaking population by making it a requirement to speak Spanish to teach is not a good educational solution. Solutions are found out of necessity. Don't take away the necessity.

That is insensitive to the needs of those who came here at an advanced age and got no formal education.

If you were in Mexico at your age would not you want help?

[concerned]

You Are Insensitive wrote:

<quoted text>
That is insensitive to the needs of those who came here at an advanced age and got no formal education.
If you were in Mexico at your age would not you want help?

ah, duh, I would not GO to MEXICO if I did not know the language. I would only go to the resorts where they speak english. No brainer.

[itskim]

If I were moving to another country I would make sure my children spoke that language prior to moving there, but that's just me. I prefer to take responsibilty for my child's well-being, and not expect some other system to do my job. I agree that it should not be the American Public School system's responsibility to teach English to children who do not speak it. It should be their parents responsiblity to make sure that this is done. This can certainly be done on their own time. It is done all the time by people who move here from Germany, Russia, Italy, etc. It is only a certain segment of the population that get this prefered treatment.

This should be a requirement for citizenship. Adults should learn English and ensure that their dependants speak it as well.

[concerned]

Not really confused wrote:

<quoted text>
Don't you think the person teaching you Italian would have to know English, even just enough to communicate with you?
Again, why would you withhold an education from a child whose parents brought them here? Why should the child suffer? What good is it to deny them an education?

HEY, REALLY, REALLY CONFUSED - listen up! Again, I don't want to WITHOLD an education from a child whose parents brought them here and cannot speak english! I just want them to learn the language BEFORE entering PUBLIC SCHOOL. HOW CAN I BE CLEARER? Can you people READ english, because you don't seem to get it.

[Appalled]

You Are Insensitive wrote:

<quoted text>
That is insensitive to the needs of those who came here at an advanced age and got no formal education.
If you were in Mexico at your age would not you want help?

I am not saying that they should not get help. It should be appropriately available so that these people can acclimate to our country. The direction we are going in makes us acclimate to their needs and perpetuates the problem. Do you see the difference here? The kind of solution you are proposing is a permanent fix that enables the immigrant to CHOOSE whether to learn the language or not because the need is not there.

If I were in Mexico and all the vegetable cans were labeled in English and all the telephone prompts enabled me to push a button for English and all the public signs were duplicated in English..........then I wouldn't need help, would I?

And just so you know, I have helped one wonderfully motivated hispanic student acclimate to the classroom. She doesn't think I am insensitive. But then she and her family made it a point to learn English on their own. I just helped her learn to read.

[high]

Appalled wrote:

<quoted text>
I am not saying that they should not get help. It should be appropriately available so that these people can acclimate to our country. The direction we are going in makes us acclimate to their needs and perpetuates the problem. Do you see the difference here? The kind of solution you are proposing is a permanent fix that enables the immigrant to CHOOSE whether to learn the language or not because the need is not there.
If I were in Mexico and all the vegetable cans were labeled in English and all the telephone prompts enabled me to push a button for English and all the public signs were duplicated in English..........then I wouldn't need help, would I?
And just so you know, I have helped one wonderfully motivated hispanic student acclimate to the classroom. She doesn't think I am insensitive. But then she and her family made it a point to learn English on their own. I just helped her learn to read.

There you go - you said the magic words: "she and her family made it a point to learn English on their own" and not on MY dime. Point made.

[Appalled]

high wrote:

<quoted text>
There you go - you said the magic words: "she and her family made it a point to learn English on their own" and not on MY dime. Point made.

Glad to help out. LOL.

[high]

Appalled wrote:

<quoted text>
Glad to help out. LOL.

Congratulations on your understanding. And, remember, if your ever out of the country - bring a language dictionary! LOL

[high]

I was in Chicago yesterday at a McDonald's and asked a woman where the restrooms were located and she said "No Habla English". What the H___ is working there for if she cannot even direct anyone to the bathroom? I could understand her response if I were in fricken Mexico, but here in the U.S.- that's crap!