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No Time Left For Input From Hispanic Experts Save Email Print
Reporter: AP
34 comments
A | A | A

Hispanic children make up 47 percent of the 4.7 million students
in Texas public classrooms. The board is set to take a preliminary vote March 27th on new standards for curriculum in reading and writing.
State Representative Abel Herrero asked board members yesterday to hold off, saying experts familiar with Hispanic culture should get the chance to offer their own suggestions.
But board chairman Don McLeroy said the time for experts to
weigh in passed long ago.
McLeroy also said he's shocked by accusations that he and other
board members were trying to shortchange Hispanic students.
Teachers and other English language and reading experts can
offer comments on the 78-page proposal at the public hearing next
week.
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Posted by: stephanie Location: groesbeck on Mar 24, 2008 at 11:17 AM
To Sonia,no I am not on welfare and have never been. I was a case worker for the welfare dept. Everything my family has we worked our butts off for. My kids received no financial aid for college,neither did my husband or myself. We worked our way through school and paid for our childrens out of our pocket.As I said, I was a case worker but I got sick of dealing with the dreggs of our society.
Posted by: Citizen Location: TX on Mar 24, 2008 at 09:05 AM
Webster's definition of racism---{A belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race}... No were does it say it's the Caucasian race against all other races. It's about any race thinking they are superior over another race. Obama's paster falls into this catagory. As far as the problem with Spanish vs English, that's a cultural thing. It's ok to bring your customs with you when you come to the USA as all our decents have from all over the world, but they all learned the English language. If they had not, we would be doing the following....press 2 for German, press 3 for French, press 4 for Hebrew, press 5 for Chinese, press 6 for Arabic ... get it Joe from Moody?? The Hispanic population in Texas, because of their growing numbers due to illegals here, feel they are owed "something special" beyond other races. This classifies them as RACISTS. Learn English & Stop Whining!
Posted by: minority Location: central texas on Mar 24, 2008 at 07:42 AM
white people in texas are the minority, when are we going to to step up and stick up for our rights. hispanics have thier own chamber of commerce, and many other hispanic only organizations. i cant think of any white organizations. unless you count the kkk, which is rediculous, but if it is the only one that will stick up for the white minority, maybe it isnt so bad after all.
Posted by: Anonymous Location: killeen on Mar 24, 2008 at 12:37 AM
Joe, Canada is our neighbor too, yet I haven't seen any French on my box of cereal lately! And also, it is one thing for a lazy American to be on welfare. You are right, they're here, and of all colors.. but, they are LEGAL Americans!!!! They live here, were born here..Got it! The problem that Americans have with illegals from Mexico or any other country for that matter coming here and being on "OUR" welfare system,is the fact that they shouldn't be given a handout from "OUR" government. They are not "OUR" citizens, not "OUR" responsibility. If I move to Mexico, or any other country,illegally, make minimum wage and have 20 kids, will I get a free ride, housing, medical, special classes for my kids? Probably not! Our official language is English, like that of our founding fathers..and I don't mean Santa Anna!!!! And if you would like to know why Americans don't complain about the other illegals in America like the Mexicans, it's because we don't hear them griping all the time.
Posted by: Mary Location: central Texas on Mar 23, 2008 at 09:19 PM
Joe, America may not have an "official" language, but English is not just a "choice." It is the tradition and the history of America. Check out the founding documents of America. All in English. Packages are printed in Spanish not because so many products are exported to Mexico, but because so many Mexicans come over here. Yes, it is "something about Mexicans coming over illegally," and this is it: Mexicans may not comprise the entire immigration problem, but, by the sheer numbers, Mexico is by far the biggest offender. Mexicans can literally walk across the border, whereas those from other countries have an ocean to cross. Also, a great many of the Mexican immigrants are unskilled, to say nothing of the fact that the Mexican government encourages illegal immigration, or emigration, I guess it would be for them. As for Asian immigrants, seldom are they found on the welfare rolls. So, yes, Mexican illegal immigration is a big problem.
Posted by: joe Location: moody on Mar 23, 2008 at 07:12 PM
first of all, im pretty sure that ive read somewhere that america doesnt have an "official language" english is just a choice..growing up in elementery i remember getting punished if we spoke spanish, by the school.. the only reason ..i beleive..that they put spanish on packaging..is becous mexico is our neighbor..and they do ship products to mexico..it saves money on packaging!! i bet if russia was our neighbor the packages might be in english and russian! and people..quit the "illigals know lonestar" ther are just as many blacks and whites that dont even attempt to work that are on welfare, and drive cadillacs and big suv's. i think we need to worry more about fixing the public schools as a whole..than how we talk. yes we should all be able to comunicate i agree 100%! everyday, it s something about mexicans comeing over illigaly, what about cubans, pakistanians, chinese.. these people dont always speak english and yet the GOVERNMENT gives them money to start business!! only in amarica
Posted by: anonymous on Mar 22, 2008 at 11:08 PM
Don't you wish you didn't have to punch that buttom for Spanish or English every single time you call a business? And some don't have say push a button for English, you just have to keep listening and whistle a tune until you get an operator. Just wondered if all other countries do the same? We make it so attractive for illegals to come then gripe about it that now I think it is time to go back to the American way as this did not used to happen. I am also tired of Obama stating Imus should be fired when his pastor said a lot worse and haven't heard him say he should be fired, no, because he is like family. So, my question is where are my rights as a white person going? I am tired of tying not to step on toes and don't see the other races stepping up for me or any of us. How long must this keep going on and who thought it all up in the first place? I see racism in every color. It isn't just white people.
Posted by: Hope Location: Killeen on Mar 21, 2008 at 09:53 PM
Mel, I agree with you. If a child is immersed in the English language, they will absorb it quickly.I was born & raised here but my parents were immigrants. NO, we were never on public assistance because my father believed in working for everything we needed. I went to school knowing only Spanish but because I was spoken to in English only at school, I learned the language quickly. As for the Lonestar card, I see many non-hispanics with two or three kids proudly displaying their card. My parents raised ten kids without ANY public assistance, even after they received their citizenship. Not all Hispanic immigrants are here to stick to the Americans & many are working on learning to speak the English language.Not all should suffer for the others that are not trying.
Posted by: gerry Location: cameron on Mar 21, 2008 at 09:12 PM
i would like to thank all those who responded positvely to my initial blog. with the presendital race going on, this topic is on the back burner because they don' want to lose votes. it's time to quit worrying about votes and doing something about this.
Posted by: Zenaida Location: Waco on Mar 21, 2008 at 06:52 PM
Mikey, It's actually only Quebec that speaks French, and yes, the schools in the New England states that border Quebec start teaching French in the first grade. My parents agreed English only in the USA. We never spoke Portuguese at home or in public. But I have a grandma in Portugal that I can't have even the most rudimentary conversation with. I think that is why the Hispanics are so adamant about their kids continuing to speak Spanish. Family ties are much more important to them than they are to white America.
Posted by: Nic Location: Fort Hood on Mar 21, 2008 at 05:13 PM
Sonia, I don't think anyone on this site is griping about an American who happens to be Hispanic. And I assume you are. If you are an illegal and you and your children know English, then great you are one of the few!!! What people on this site are mainly griping about is the illegal who comes here and doesn't know the language. Then, they act like we owe it to them to put Spanish on everything and learn their language. But they refuse to learn and use ours, and they are in OUR country!!! I have tons of hispanic friends, and they know both...but they were born and raised here. That is the difference! To have another language be forced upon us and our children in "OUR" country is crazy! I've been to countless other countries and let me assure you, they don't cater to anyone!!! They'll sale you a book called a pocket translator and say good luck!!!!
Posted by: mikey Location: in the country on Mar 21, 2008 at 04:05 PM
Do you think that all of the states that border along Canada have "Experts familiar with French culture" advise their school boards?
Posted by: Stacy Location: Killeen on Mar 21, 2008 at 02:27 PM
I'm with Stephanie about the media attention, although I think it's bringing "negative" attention that they probably didn't expect! Sonia, I have hispanic friends and relatives, their children, parents & grandparents all speak English. This is about the growing popluation of Mexican immigrants in Texas that don't speak English. It's costing you and me $$$.
Posted by: Sonia Location: Texas on Mar 21, 2008 at 12:39 PM
For everyones information Iam a hispanic and my kids all know english. And believe me I am not saying LONESTAR CARD!!!!!!!!!!! Stephanie are you on welfare I guess so like you know the word lonestar card ha.
Posted by: Anita Location: Temple on Mar 21, 2008 at 11:54 AM
This problem is continually growing with no end in sight until laws are passed. Laws that state all immigrant children entering Texas public schools have to know enough English to communicate. The parents of these children should be required to take English classes. That would stop the lazy and procrastinaters!
Posted by: Delia Location: Temple on Mar 21, 2008 at 11:35 AM
I am hispanic,growing up we only spoke English. If we wanted to speak Spanish we had to take it in school, as a foreign language. My grand parents spoke " choppy " English and encouraged us to use ENGLISH ONLY! I receive ugly comments all the time because I don't speak Spanish. My grand parents were proud of me and things I accomplished, that is why we are here. So, with that being said, if you live here legally. Our language is ENGLISH. If you want to better yourself ( you must if you are here) then learn it. If you want to reap in the benefits here ... learn ENGLISH or go back to where you came from.
Posted by: Linz Location: Harker Heights on Mar 21, 2008 at 11:07 AM
Ok, about our grocery stores, one example here... I have in my pantry right now a box of zipper freezer bags. The picture of the bag is on the box, yet one whole side of the box is in Spanish "with same picture" saying zipper freezer bags!! lol I could understand if it were meds or something with warning label but geez this is going too far. It's no wonder why hispanics don't feel they need to learn English!
Posted by: Ron Location: Waco on Mar 21, 2008 at 10:06 AM
Our Texas Hispanic Legislators should be spending their time working on ways to teach the all the hispanic community English. Then, our public school systems would not have to go all the way to Puerto Rico to find teachers for non-english speaking students.
Posted by: stephanie Location: groesbeck on Mar 21, 2008 at 10:05 AM
I did a stink with DHS and we had to use an interpreter service for all the non English speaking clients. Who by the way were 99% Hispanic due to a lawsuit some bleeding heart filed on their behalf.This service cost the taxpayers about 5Mil a year. They may not can speak the language but they all know how to say Lonestar card.How many other folks out there think this was done deliberately so that they could kick up a stink and get their cause in the media.
Posted by: DD Location: Belton on Mar 21, 2008 at 09:31 AM
Laughing @ Jimmy from Belton...tThat's funny! Gerry from Cameron, alot of people feel the same as you. This is a mess!
Posted by: Patriot Location: Tx on Mar 21, 2008 at 08:42 AM
I agree also with Gerry & Nic. We are a melting pot nation, but when have we catered so much to any other non-english speaking immigrants?? Just go to your local HEB store and you'll see over half of the products are labeled in English AND Spanish. Both adults and children need to learn English. Our country has done enough "catering" to these hispanic families that want to live here but refuse to learn and speak our English language.
Posted by: Nic Location: Fort Hood on Mar 21, 2008 at 01:15 AM
Gerry, you are so right! Until our country will finally stand up and do what is right, we are only going to continue to have these problems. I am all for any person of a different nationality to come to our country legally. When they get here though, the first thing they should do is learn English and use it. Not just at their workplace or school, but in their homes. That is a huge problem with a lot of the adult Hispanic community, many do not speak English and so their children do not. By having the child in an ESL class it helps, but then having them come home and speak nothing but Spanish will not help them grasp it as quickly as they need to. I have seen on countless occasions, a hispanic adult using their small child as a translator. The parents need to learn it and use it too! I can't imagine living in another country and not knowing their language. I'm military and wherever we go...I make an effort to learn the language! It's only right.
Posted by: Jimmy Location: Belton on Mar 20, 2008 at 11:09 PM
If you would like your children to be taught in the American public school system, please press 1 for Spanish. Press 2 for Ebonics. All others, that prefer English, please hold for further politically correct instructions.
Posted by: Zenaida Location: Waco on Mar 20, 2008 at 10:56 PM
I think that since we offer ESL classes to the students from ethnic backgrounds other than Hispanic it would be wrong to deny it to Hispanic students. My mom teaches ESL and right now in her class there are 1 Chinese student, 1 Vietnamese, 1 German, 2 Filipinos, an Italian, a Greek student and 3 Hispanics. Less than half the class is Hispanic. It doesn't seem right to throw only the Hispanic kids out of class.
Posted by: susiebw Location: kempner on Mar 20, 2008 at 05:14 PM
Why should they get special privileges anyway? They had the same amount of time to offer input as the American education specialists. They didn't have to wait for them. I know the Hispanic community views time differently than non-Hispanics, but that is their problem, not the Texas Board of Education. Before anyone jumps on me for being "biased", I have worked with Hispanics for over 27 years, I know from experience that time doesn't mean the same thing to Hispanics as it does to Gringos!
Posted by: Gerry Location: Cameron on Mar 20, 2008 at 04:33 PM
Gee, here I thought I'd get slaughtered for voicing my opinion. Too bad our state and federal politicians would prefer to be "politically correct" rather than grow a back bone and do something about this mess.
Posted by: Lily Location: Killeen on Mar 20, 2008 at 04:00 PM
What does hispanic culture have to do with curriculum in American schools?? We are in the US. I dont remember curriculum being changed for Irish, Italians or Germans... If you want to live in America and have your kids go to American Schools free of charge, then i suggest you learn what we teach in the manner we teach it! If not, your more than welcome to return to your hispanic country of choice!
Posted by: Mel Location: Waco on Mar 20, 2008 at 04:00 PM
The best way to learn English is to be immersed in it. If the kids who spoke no English were put into a classroom where only English was spoken they would learn it much faster than by being taught English as a second language. I think it is an insult to hispanic kids' intelligence by treating them as if learning English was too much of a burden for them to bear. Kids are like sponges and will soak English right up if given the opportunity and if parents at home would cooperate.
Posted by: Mary Location: Cove on Mar 20, 2008 at 03:27 PM
Gerry...I can guarantee they do not. As an ex-pat child in South America, I was sent to the local school at the age of 8 knowing not a word of Spanish. The only English I heard there was from my brother and my sister, and from the American teacher who showed up once a week to teach English. No concessions were made to this foreigner; no "Spanish as a second language" was taught. And you know what? By the end of my first year in that school, I was speaking Spanish with the best of them.
Posted by: Gerry Location: Cameron on Mar 20, 2008 at 01:54 PM
This got me to thinking. Do they teach Spanish as a second language in public schools in Mexico??
Posted by: Me Location: Central Texas on Mar 20, 2008 at 01:12 PM
Academic curriculum should be academic curriculum, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, etc. I agree with Gerry. My ancestors had to learn the language when they immigrated from Germany, Denmark, France, etc... why should these people be exempt?
Posted by: bill mitchell Location: WACO on Mar 20, 2008 at 12:27 PM
Gerry you are so very right. Why is it everyone wants the USA to conform to every whim. This is America Love it, conform to it and by all means speak her language.
Posted by: Gerry Location: Cameron on Mar 20, 2008 at 11:46 AM
Forty-Seven percent of the school kids are hispanic. I have no problem with this, UNLESS, they show up for pre-k or whenever and can't speak English. Now before you jump me I do not fault these kids, but I do fault the parents. I don't think it should fall on the state and schools to provide English as a second language classes to these kids. Parents, have your kid(s) ready to enter school, and that means speaking English. If not, well that's for another discussion. I've said my piece, now bash away.
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