Spanish Taught in Elementary school Over English ?!?!?

[gaylasue]

It is true that a person can learn a different language quicker and retain it longer if taught at an early age (before the mind gets cluttered with useless stuff).  I think a lot of people have a negative reaction to children being taught Spanish in primary school because of the rampant immigration issue.  I do, however, see a problem with making it mandatory that Spanish be taught in schools to accommodate the immigration problems.  American English should be the primary language taught first and foremost.  The education of American children should not be sacrificed to cater to non-Americans.

[margaret0524]

I believe English should come first.   I was surprised to learn that this country does not have an official language.   I would like English be made the official language for starters.   And I think the more languages the children the better, but English should come first!

[lavenderallen89]

Im sure that they aren't teaching her ONLY spanish. It would be both. And, actually the younger they are when they learn a new language the easier it is. She will get used to it. Now a days parents think they're kids are being "over worked" or pushed to hard, when the reality is, The harder you push them the more they can handle. I think its great they want to teach an other language so early on, AS LONG as they don't skimp out on the english.

[lgemini]

I think your daughter should have both subjects.   I think your school is getting your daughter ready for the future.   America will have more Spanish speaking people in twenty or thirty years.

[lywb2168]

In my area that is an emerging program that teaches the kids 1/2 day in Spanish and 1/2 day in English, but you have to agree to it or your kid does not get in the program, I think is wonderful that kids learn a 2nd language as long as the parents are OK with it.

I speak both languages, and my girls can understand both languages perfectly, their preference when speaking is English, since is the language the use most often, but they understand Spanish without any problems, and I am having problems with the school, since they want to give ESOL classes to my youngest daughter (MS student) only because of the Spanish last name, and the fact that I have an accent, my daughter can speak, read, write and understand English perfectly and it is her prefer language, Spanish is just something she knows because of us.
The school has actually made it very hard for my daughter and have dropped some of her elective classes to force her to take English as a Second language, I have had a fight in my hands.  She is a A thru C student and does not deserve to be mark as an Immigrant just for have parents that are.  My girls are born and raise in the US, as a matter of fact I was born in the US as well, but my dear mom took me back to her country when my parents split and I grew up there, and my husband has been a citizen for more than 15 years now, but the system wants to penalize my girl just for having an Spanish last name.  

so you see we are on the oposite side of the bar here.  I do not mind my girls being teach the language, which they already understand, but I do not think that anybody should be force to go that way just because is what they want to do.

[GramPolly3]

I fully support learning a language at an early age. It helps with developing the skills needed to learn all through life. Spanish is the language she will most exposed to so it makes sense to teach this. It also helps with their English language development as there are nuances applicable to both.

[southernhorizons]

Be thankful she is leaning it early.  The sooner the better.  Students that learn another language early have advantages over students who don't learn it early.  Sure this is America but if you haven't noticed America is changing whether you like it or not.  Hispanics will be the dominant group in the decades to come.  In 30 years Spanish might be the "unofficial, official language" in the US.  Adapt or die.

If I wanted to live in a Hispanic country I'd move to Mexico. This is supposed to be the United States, and if Mexicans or other Hispanics want to move here they should become Americans and learn our language. Why do they come here if they don't want to be Americans? Let them stay in their own countries and speak Spanish. I refuse to lose my culture to adapt theirs. They are the ones moving here, so they are the ones that should adapt. And no, I won't adapt or die.

[dreamyxo]

If I wanted to live in a Hispanic country I'd move to Mexico. This is supposed to be the United States, and if Mexicans or other Hispanics want to move here they should become Americans and learn our language. Why do they come here if they don't want to be Americans? Let them stay in their own countries and speak Spanish. I refuse to lose my culture to adapt theirs. They are the ones moving here, so they are the ones that should adapt. And no, I won't adapt or die.

Do you think Native American's felt the same?

[lhowdyshell]

 ::)I think learning another language is a choice ( unless you live in that country then it might become a requirement). If you feel so badly about your country to the point that you actually leave it then I think the requirement to learn the language becomes yours, why leave Mexico to come to America to live like you are still in Mexico? I think the accomadation should be thiers and not the kids who were born here.

[Trace321]

I would go to the School and get the superintendents number. Contact her or him. Speak with the superintendent personally or set up a meeting with
that person right away. Don,t wait. English is the First language. This is not Spain. This is absolutely craziness. I am upset at hearing about this. And the guy that said it,s the times we live in is just not that into the times we live in.

[lywb2168]

Not all Spanish speaking people are MEXICANS.  I agree that if you move to a country other than yours, you should learn their language.  But it offends me greatly  than all spanish speakings are considered Mexicans, I am not and will never be MExican and I proudly speak Spanish.  And let me tell you all something, the Central America country I come from the Americans refuse to sepak Spanish and demanded that we speak to them on their language, which is not the official language of the country.

People just be careful and remember that Mexico is not the only Spanish Speaking Country in the world, as a matter of fact is 1 of about 25 countries where spanish is the main language.  Just though to clarufy, because it really makes mad that I will be considered Mexican when I am far from them.

[lvstephanie]

At first I was upset by your original post; I'm glad that it is just a show she's watching and not the school forcing the language without parental notification.

I do think learning a new language is important, and it is easier to learn at a younger age than when you're older. I wouldn't have even batted an eye if the school was trying to introduce a language course as early as Kindergarten; I remember Sesame Street would sometimes introduce Spanish words in some of their skits.

What I would be opposed to would be if the school taught in Spanish as the primary language, or taught both English and Spanish at the same time, esp. if the parents were not notified of this policy nor had the choice to opt out of this. Although there is no national language, most Americans speak English, and so to force children to learn some different language, esp without any parental involvement, would be like a slap in the face against the family's culture. The reason why there is no national language is because we respect our freedoms, one of those being what and how our children are taught. Unless the school was in a heavily Hispanic neighborhood, having the school teach primarily in Spanish could be taken as an infringement on our rights to have our children learn English as the primary language.

I would also be a little upset if Spanish was the only 2nd language that was taught. Although there is a major influx of Hispanics into this country, it is not true that it is the best 2nd language to learn. If you live in the north or midwest, you may not have such a large population of Hispanics as you do in the bordering southern states. In fact a few years ago, the Hmong community was the largest immigrant community to our state, so at least for us it may be more important to learn their language. English is the language in business, but if parents are expecting their children to actually do something in the world markets, then other languages may be important: perhaps German for engineering, or Japanese for technology. Or since Mandarin is spoken by the most number of people (as their primary language), perhaps it would be best to teach that language.

[jessicaroselorr]

While it is true that other languages are best learned at a young age. I would be worried if my child was favoring a different language over English, especially if that is you her mothers first language.

[BOSSLADYNELLIE]

I THINK BOTH LANGAGES R GOOD.... I KNO 3 LANGUAGES. SO I THINK ITS GOOD SHE MIGHT HAVE FRIENDS THAT DNT SPEAK ENGLISH 

[bigfoot951]

Yes it is necessary.  i went to a school similar to that one and I learned enough spanish in elementary school to exempt out of the two spanish classes I needed.  It gets harder to learn the older they get.