why must we take spanish in order to graduate in Texas?

Question

during my high school years I was forced to take spanish class, and it was a total waste of class time when I could have been taking another class such as another science course. It totally ruined my schedule and had no meaning, I did not learn anything that would be helpful for my future. I believe the only language we have to know in America is English, and take another language if we choose to. It effects our eduacation. what can we do about it? your opinion would be helpful.

Answer 1

i dont kno man i gotta learn it here in NC too though. complain to your school board i guess hopefully something will work our becuase i want to move down to texas when im out of college and i dont want my kids to have to learn it.

Answer 2

Because many people in the US speak Spanish. In many professions, such as medicine, it is a plus if you can speak a second language. Personally, I enjoyed Spanish so much that I chose to take it again in College. I'm not exactly fluent but I know a lot more than Sesame Street level Spanish. It probably was a waste of your time because you didn't care enough. There are many benefits for learning a second language. Regardless of whether immigrants are legal or illegal (because I know that's where this is going), many people speak languages other than English. And some people may want to travel.

I think it's useless, however to have to pass Gym. I know we want our kids healthy but does climbing a rope in gym class really have anything to do with College or a professional career. Not to mention that too many Gym classes just require you to wear your gym clothes and don't plan any real activities. That's a useless class.

Answer 3

I live in Texas as well. I cant see the harm in having languages that can be taken as an elective as it was when I was in school but to make that mandatory is absolutely wrong. When I was in school you had a choice of Latin. French and Spanish. All still good languages to know. Latin was once considered the language of learning. Most of the English language is derived from it. If Mexicans or anyone else from another country wants to truly be here, the first bit of proof of this should be that they learn our language, English. Where I work, a great number of the employees are Mexican. All day I listen to them speaking to one another in Spanish and the music that is played is Mexican. It really makes you feel like you are an outsider. The other thing that makes me angry is the number of jobs that are now bi-lingual a must!! We have totally lost control n this country.

Answer 4

There's a huge Spanish speaking population in the US, especially in Texas. Is it to much to ask your spoiled, arrogant little a** to be just the tiniest bit sensatitive to the existence of cultures besides your own? Learning Spanish is NOT a wast of time at all. Of course, you're apparently to busy being self-absorbed to even notice the extience of anyone besides yourself, but actually, taking a couple hours a week to make a tiny effort to be just the littlest bit tolerant of people other than yourself won't kill you. In fact, if you actually payed attention in Spanish class you might even be a better person for it. Although it seems like in your case that might be a lost cause.

Oh, and just FYI, the US does NOT actually have an offical language at all. Asking you to learn the second most widely spoken language in the country is simply not an unreasonable demand. Keep in mind that if you were in Europe, you'd probably have been studying three or four langauges since kindergarten and at this point would be fluent in all of them.

Answer 5

I live and graduated from Texas and I chose to take Spanish in high school even thought I already speak it fluently. But since TX has such a high population of Spanish speakers I knew it would be useful and now I make more money than the person next to me who holds the same position just cause I'm Bilingual. So it is beneficial.

Answer 6

Why would learning how to communicate to another person be a waste of time or helpful to your future?
Yes, we all know we speak English in America, But I don't feel learning a new language effects our education in a bad way, nor is it a waste of time...you learn from it. Learning is a good thing. From what I have read here it seems you like to learn . And if you don't want to learn Spanish, see if you can pick another language they offer as part of the course credit...French? German? Italian? Latin? Portuguese?

Answer 7

When did you attend high school?

When I graduated from h.s. in Houston, foreign languages were an elective. They were a highly recommended elective, though an elective nonetheless.

When I got my bachelors degree from college, language was required. I took four semesters of Spanish in college, and would have had to take more had I not studied a foreign language for two years in high school.

Perhaps I was fortunate, as they offered several languages in my high school. I learned German, which I have been able to use over the years.

I travel frequently for work, and speaking Spanish has been a blessing as I have had the opportunity to visit much of Latin America.

Perhaps if you take the opportunity to use the Spanish you learned you will grow as a person.

Answer 8

As a Spanish teacher, I am biased, of course. Studying a foreign language is important even if you don't use it later on. It's vital that students gain an understanding of some foreign language and culture as our global market continues to become more and more global. Also, studying a foreign language is great for your brain! I think it's about learning something about people who are different from you and exercising your brain in ways you might not be exposed to otherwise.

To those who are acting bigoted towards immigrants: Don't say "they aren't learning our language." Many of them are working hard at it. Sure, some people in every culture are lazy, but not everyone. Know that your ancestors came here as immigrants, too, unless you are 100% pure Native American, and even then if you think back far enough. Also, if you're acting like a jerk towards illegal immigrants, ask yourself this:

What would I do to feed my family? How far would I go? Would I break another country's immigration laws if I had to?

I would.

Answer 9

I understand that it is a bit bad to be forced to learn something, but you could say the same for physics. you will not really need it unless you use it as a scientist or so. But I think only speaking english is a stupid choice, because the US work with countries all around the world and speaking a second language, especially spanish, is really useful now in the US.

Answer 10

Welcome to The United States of America. Land of the Free and Home of the Brave. How RIDICULOUS that anyone would be expected to know SPANISH! What is the language of this country? Spanish? Or perhaps ENGLISH? Hm-m-m-m-m. If you want to live and prosper here in my country, then learn how to speak the language! And take your flags of countries other than The United States of America back to where you come from. **** You, you're a guest here. Have respect.

Answer 11

Well, to be fair to them, a foriegn language, no matter what it is, can give you more insight to different cultures.

With that aside, I agree with you. The only reason they want you to learn it is because we have been completely invaded by illegals in this country who happen to refuse to speak english. Because of this there are many jobs that will not hire you unless you are bi lingual. Knowing spaish, unfortunatly, opens doors for you in the job market.

If you really want to do something about it, you need to get together a group of people, the larger the better, get a petition signed by parents in the area with 500 - 1000 signatures and give it to the board of education. Tell them you and all of your followers want this stopped and tell them the reason. Also, contact the newspapers after you have gathered all of your followers and while you are in the middle of gathering signatures for you petition and tell them what you are doing. Hopefully they will get involved and write an article about your dealings.

This is the country of opportunity and freedom, but you have to really want it in order to practice it. It will take some time, but you can get things done if you want to. To change things, its all about pressure. The more pressure you put on the decision makers, the more likely things will get changed.