am i a racist for not wanted my kids to learn Spanish(read detail before answering)?

Question

We live in a large Hispanic populated state and we are told my kids have to learn Spanish, yet this is America and we speak English, we were born English/ German/ Indian/ Hungarian/ basically. I am a Heinz 57 (which means many nationalities) honestly none in Spanish. We teach our kids sign language because of family and German because I lived there at one time and have German aunt. But we are told we have to teach them Spanish. We are also followers of Christ and teach them Hebrew, yet none of what we teach them is considered a 2nd language that can be used in the work place. Where is that right either. i shouldn't have to learn Spanish either just to understand what my children are learning in school and speaking with their Spanish- English speaking friends in my presents, where is that fair for the parents either. When I lived in Germany in the military we had to learn German. Why should we as Americans have to learn Spanish to live in our own state?

That word bilingual, my kids speak other languages. To the state being bilingual is Spanish-and English. But they speak Hebrew and German too, but that’s not bilingual by the states definition. I called that being selective to what they claim as bilingual. I call that racist to only claim Spanish as the only bilingual language for a job. Where is that fair either. I have Spanish friends who agree with me. I also have an Italian friend who was forced to learn English to even get any help from the state, so why should that be any different from the Spanish issue. Schools don’t offer as many language classes as they used too. My brother, a teacher doesn't think its fair to only have limited language classes to offer. My oldest speaks and understands some Spanish by choice, but I have a younger child who is mentally handicap where communication is a hard thing to do. She is also the reason we had to learn sign language. Spanish makes it harder on her own mind.

Answer 1

Spanish is one of the most popular languages used in this country, alongside English (as the first) and A.S.L. The U.S. doesn't have an 'official language', although some states do as their official language of the state. The U.S. Census predicts that by the year 2050, people of hispanic origin will become a majority in this country. Anyways, it is just a good idea to learn another language that is rapidly growing and popular in your region, so you will understand many of those who don't know how to speak English and vice-versa. People who speak just Spanish, should also learn English, so this point also applies to them as well. Everyone should become or at least attempt at being bilingual, especially in the most popular languages of their region.

Answer 2

I think learning a second, or third language, is a choice, and the State should not impose it on you and your kids.
I speak three languages, Spanish, English and German. Spanish is my native tounge, but I speak English just as fluently. In my case, those three languages opened many doors for me when the time came to start my career; however, I learned them by happenstance, it did not feel like an imposition, and I had no reason to resent it.
I might be wrong, but I think that your issue is not against Spanish per se, but against the imposition and lack of choices, and your question is very valid, because why should you have to learn Spanish to live in your own state? Whatever happen to the choices there used to be in highschool? I mean, I did one year of highschool in the US in the 80s, and there were other language choices. We could learn French, Spanish, or German. Is it that the schools in your state are so badly under budgeted that they're cutting out language education? if so, that's just a damn shame.
I have always believed that the ability to speak several languages is something that makes the individual all the more richer in knowledge and skill, and that it opens doors. I'm glad I can read the great works of American literature in English, and not settle for a Spanish translation, and I'm glad that even with my rusty German I can read Gunther Grass in the original. I think your children will thank you for the effort you and your family put into teaching them other languages.

Answer 3

When you say you "have to teach them Spanish" I assume you meanit is required in their schools. With a large Hispanic population this makes a great deal of sense, and it's puzzling why, when you seem open to teaching others languages, you would object so much to Spanish.

You may be answering your own question, since having knowledge of Spanish where you live would be an advantage to your family. You might want to think about what your own real reasons are.

You, of course, don't have to learn Spanish. There is no law that a parent must speak every language their children speak. One of mine speaks Russian, French, Portuguese and Polish, and signs some. I speak Spanish and sign pretty well, but don't speak the other languages my child does. I also know some Hebrew and Greek which the child does not. The other child speaks Spanish and a little French and also signs.

To me, having another language offered to children should be a reason to celebrate, not an imposition.

Answer 4

No. I live in a city where it is largely hispanic also. I would like to learn it as a second language because I am in the healthcare
field, however I don't feel there is a need for my children to learn it.
If they decide to later on in life that is fine. I also am from a german,
polish,norweigen, and sweedish backround . My immediate family
came over here from those countries. (grandparents) Once they
arrived they learned English and no longer taught us their native
tongues because English is the Language of the United States.
I don't know why all of a sudden people think that it should now
be spanish? We never made any exceptions before. When we
go to other countries we learn to speak their language. Not spanish. It doesn't make any sense. It is all so political I think.
I think that Mexicans are not educated enough before they come
here so it is hard for them to learn english and that some people
would rather get their vote because there are so many of them
here now than push them to learn English like everyone else.
I hate politics!

Answer 5

The US has no official language, so we do not just speak english because it is America. Not wanting your children to speak Spanish is not racist, but the reasoning behind it has many "white power" traces. They don't have to learn Spanish, it would be great for them in the long run because most employers will pay more but it is great that they have learned German and Hebrew. Those are extremely difficult languages to master. Why not have them learn Spanish too? In most other countries people that are multiligual are highly regarded. It should be that way in this country too. A large percentage of the population in the US are immigrants from Spanish speaking countries, and the US has a commenwealth (Puerto Rico) that is Spanish-speaking. No one is forcing you to do anything but you have to realize that it would be a great asset.
Your children could always learn Japanese if you are worried about them in the business world...

Answer 6

I understand where you are coming from but times are changing. More and more hispanics are coming into the US. And you know what? I honestly have to give Hispanics and Asians props because they came to the US and they learned English..if even a little bit. I agree with you that this is the US and we speak English, and I agree that if Hispanics are going to live here they should learn English. But, I think that we should learn at least basic Spanish to help them. How else are they gonna learn English if we can't help them? And how can we help them if we don't know even a little bit of Spanish? I think some Americans are really closed-minded when it comes to other nationalities. I'm not saying you guys should be fluent in Spanish, but it would be helpful to know at least the basics. The prejudice needs to stop.

Answer 7

Ok. But the Spanish kids speak Spanish, English and probably another language. If you start learning foreign languanges now you will be in demand when you are an adult and will be considered 1st for jobs.

Don't hold your kids back!! It is even silly to think about not letting them learn Spanish.

Answer 8

I'm Mexican and I do not think your a racist, I,m marry to a White girl have 6 kids no own speak Spanish i was more worry to l;earn English that to teach my kids Spanish after all we live in the USA English is the official language and everybody who lives here needs to lean English if you go to Mexico they don't give shi.....if you speak English or not if you do not speak Spanish you are out of luck

Answer 9

I have a problem very much like yours. My first language is Spanish. I don't live in USA, but I was forced to learn English at school, and I hated it with a passion. 12 years later, here I am, I survived it. I speak English, I write in English. I conjugate perfectly, as you can very well see. I LOVE English irregular verbs.
In college, I wanted to learn more languages, so I chose French, Portuguese and Latin. If I were to choose another, it would be Italian. I don't really like German.
If I had to learn English to live and work in my Spanish speaking country, why shouldn't you learn Spanish? You would use it every day. But I warn you, it's hard to learn, and harder if you resist learning it.

Answer 10

Why should you *have* to do anything? I'm sorry but I feel that we have a problem when the government tells us what we have to do because it's good for us. I can see the benefits of knowing more than one language, but if Spanish is so important, why doesn't the government force us to learn it and use it all of our lives. Most adults I know took Spanish when they were young and never used it. They just wasted time and effort. So, no, I don't think your racist.