Posted on 02/01/2008 7:34:02 PM PST by engrpat
GRAPEVINE (CBS 11 News) ― A fight over language in a Grapevine school has gotten so heated that some parents are pulling their children out of class.
The parents are claiming that students are being forced to learn Spanish, while children of immigrants aren't being forced to learn or speak English.
The signs posted around Timberline Elementary are done in both English and Spanish, and so are the school letters and other information.
Officials with the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District say it's their duty to educate all students. But some white students and their parents say they are now the minority and are left with no choice, but to fight.
Kaitlyn O'Pry, a fifth grader at Timberline, is protesting her school. "If I didn't take Spanish, then I'm probably going to fail," the 10 year-old said.
Kaitlyn is not alone. Ashley Allison's mom has pulled her out of Spanish class each day, to study in the library. "I'm not real happy with the issue," said Ashley's mom, Leigh Allison.
Kaitlyn has begun circulating a letter, which many students have signed, opposing the elementary schools mandatory Spanish classes.
Some parents say accommodations are being made for a growing Hispanic population. Kaitlyn claims that, "Over half of our school has doubled in Spanish population." Kaitlyn's mom, Julie Swartz, says the school isn't focusing on the entire student population. "I think they're concentrating way too much on accommodating the Spanish speaking kids," she told TXA 21 News.
In 2001 Hispanics made up 33-percent of Timberline Elementary enrollment, with white students accounting for 60-percent. Now in 2008, Hispanics account for more than half of the student body, and white enrollment is down to 36-percent.
The girls and their parents have met with their principal, the Grapevine-Colleyville School Board, and the superintendent. The opposition is garnering other support, including that of Dora Deleon. "This is a country America, with English. So we supposed to learn to speak English," said the concerned Hispanic mother, whose grandchildren attend Timberline.
Kaitlyn's stepfather, Patrick Swartz, says, "They should not be forced to take Spanish."
But there are some parents who embrace the Spanish initiatives at Timberline. "It develops our kids," said parent Tia Green.
The girls and their supporters say they're not giving up the fight.
Officials with the Grapevine-Colleyville School District stress that Spanish has been long been a part of school curriculum and released a statement to TXA 21 News that said in part – "We are currently reviewing our world language curriculum to further benefit students, within the resources available. It is our privilege to educate any and all children who attend Grapevine-Colleyville ISD."
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Aprenda espanol hoy, evite la prisa manana.
Learning a language may be a good decision for the future but this is America and you should have a choice. This is an English speaking country to boot.
I’d sue.
That would really piss me off if it was done to one of my children.
As I recall I was forced to learn Spanish in High School (or French or German but I took Spanish because everyone said it was easiest.) I don’t know what it’s like now but back in the 70’s a foriegn language requirement in HS or even middle school wasn’t that uncommon.
Ashley's mom needs to learn to speak proper English.
Was half of your school speaking and learning in a foreign language?
“It is our privilege to educate any and all children who attend Grapevine-Colleyville ISD.
At our elementary school in Arlington VA, all students are required to take a foreign language — but Spanish is the only language offered. I spoke up at a PTA meeting, saying we needed some choice in foreign languages. Nobody seconded my motion, even though all the parents at the meeting were white.
By the way: the Catholic diocese of Washington has decreed that all students in diocese schools must take Spanish.
sorry I didn’t go to a Texas school-trnslation?
There are worse things they could be taught, as a previous thread has pointed out.
Third party statement, do you think it is a direct quote?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
There will be government school defenders on this board who will insist that their child’s school is different.
They are kidding themselves.
Their child’s teachers are educated in Marxist colleges of education. Their child’s textbooks are influenced by the pressure groups in the big states, and are influenced by the NEA and colleges of education.
When I was in school, Spanish was a requirement and I live in Kansas. I remember being able to opt out of it and never suffered any consequences by doing so.
Or you can move to GA. :) My kids can take German, French, Spanish, or Latin.
The sex ed course doesn’t take place until 8th grade, is abstinence ONLY, and NO controversial questions are answered in class.
My son says nearly every student was anti-abortion after the class was over.
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