A Catholic school in Kansas required its students to speak English during school hours at the school . . . very predictably it got sued. The only good news is that a court agreed with the school 
The judge went a little further and dismissed claims that the school was discriminating against the students! Got to give kudos to the judge in Kansas.
My wife has a student from Macedonia in one of her classes, the boy is a nice kid, but literally speaks NO ENGLISH. He is a freshman and was put in one of her accounting classes. After 4 days of classes he is already hopelessly behind and since accounting builds upon past lessons, this kid will never catch up. The uncle of the boy, who is his guardian, suggested that he get a passing grade for 'showing up' to class. My wife won't do that. It will be interesting to see if she is ordered to do something by the school administration.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Marten today announced that the rule put in place at St. Anne Catholic School requiring students to speak English during school did not create a hostile educational environment for the three Hispanic students who had filed suit against the school and the Catholic Diocese of Wichita.
In his decision, Judge Marten also dismissed the plaintiffs' claim that the rule was discriminatory.
Problems at the school arose in the fall of 2007 when the students, whose first or primary language is English, began speaking in Spanish to make derogatory comments about teachers, school administrators and fellow students, and to separate themselves from other students. Both actions violated school policies.
To address the behavioral issues, school officials put a rule in place requiring English to be spoken at school at all times. "This case was about a teacher's or administrator's right to discipline students in a private Catholic school," said Father Thomas Leland, St. Anne pastor.
"There must be unity and discipline for learning and (spiritual) formation to take place," Fr. Leland said. "The unifying element in this case was the English language, because it's the common denominator among the students, teachers and administrators.
"This issue has been divisive and hurtful to our parish community, and in that regard, there are no winners," Fr. Leland said. "We want to move forward and continue educating our students and helping them develop spiritually and personally, so they can be successful, contributing members of our community of faith and the greater community as well."
St. Anne Parish and Catholic School have a long history of embracing diversity, dating back to the 1960s when the first Asian immigrants began arriving. Today, St. Anne Catholic School has about 35 percent Hispanic, 54 percent Caucasian, 10 percent Asian, and .05 percent African American and Native American students in grades kindergarten through eighth grade.
The judge went a little further and dismissed claims that the school was discriminating against the students! Got to give kudos to the judge in Kansas.
My wife has a student from Macedonia in one of her classes, the boy is a nice kid, but literally speaks NO ENGLISH. He is a freshman and was put in one of her accounting classes. After 4 days of classes he is already hopelessly behind and since accounting builds upon past lessons, this kid will never catch up. The uncle of the boy, who is his guardian, suggested that he get a passing grade for 'showing up' to class. My wife won't do that. It will be interesting to see if she is ordered to do something by the school administration.
Statement from the Catholic Diocese of Wichita
Posted: Aug 15, 2008 04:06 PM
Updated: Aug 15, 2008 10:33 PM
Press Release
Catholic Diocese of Wichita
August 15th, 2008
Posted: Aug 15, 2008 04:06 PM
Updated: Aug 15, 2008 10:33 PM
Press Release
Catholic Diocese of Wichita
August 15th, 2008
U.S. District Judge Thomas Marten today announced that the rule put in place at St. Anne Catholic School requiring students to speak English during school did not create a hostile educational environment for the three Hispanic students who had filed suit against the school and the Catholic Diocese of Wichita.
In his decision, Judge Marten also dismissed the plaintiffs' claim that the rule was discriminatory.
Problems at the school arose in the fall of 2007 when the students, whose first or primary language is English, began speaking in Spanish to make derogatory comments about teachers, school administrators and fellow students, and to separate themselves from other students. Both actions violated school policies.
To address the behavioral issues, school officials put a rule in place requiring English to be spoken at school at all times. "This case was about a teacher's or administrator's right to discipline students in a private Catholic school," said Father Thomas Leland, St. Anne pastor.
"There must be unity and discipline for learning and (spiritual) formation to take place," Fr. Leland said. "The unifying element in this case was the English language, because it's the common denominator among the students, teachers and administrators.
"This issue has been divisive and hurtful to our parish community, and in that regard, there are no winners," Fr. Leland said. "We want to move forward and continue educating our students and helping them develop spiritually and personally, so they can be successful, contributing members of our community of faith and the greater community as well."
St. Anne Parish and Catholic School have a long history of embracing diversity, dating back to the 1960s when the first Asian immigrants began arriving. Today, St. Anne Catholic School has about 35 percent Hispanic, 54 percent Caucasian, 10 percent Asian, and .05 percent African American and Native American students in grades kindergarten through eighth grade.
Teachers were actually having the kids put the workbooks they were working in away, and pulled out workbooks that were reviewing what they already knew just to accommodate the majority of the class during the infestation, and went back to their regularly scheduled program when the class got smaller. I know this because my now 22 yearold came home in kindergarten with his workbook that was supposed to be under his desk until further notice....he finished it at home like he would a puzle book. He thought the teacher gave the books to the class because they weren't useing them anymore. When he had the finished product, and "all proud of himself" she put him in the front of the class room on a stool in a corner (all day) to show the other kids what happens when you skip ahead in your workbook without the rest of the class. I was taking him a change of clothes every other day because he would pee in his pants.
