Teacher question?

Question

My daughter has an idiot of a Science teacher. She has made comments like "Come on people, nobody here rides on the little yellow bus" which is insulting to me because I rode on a little yellow bus due to being physically handicapped. But yesterday she made a comment that I really think she's going to regret. She said "If you don't know my language then get out of my country no other langauage but English should be spoken here", now while I can see a little fustration with people talking about you in another language that you have no idea if they're insulting you or not, I myself would love to know Spanish or French or any other language but English, especially when 40% of the kids in the school are Spanish. Was she out of line in your opinion?

Believe me it's torture for me not to call her but my son is so afraid of retaliation

All her students due speak English I was talking more about her insulting their parents & grandparents

Answer 1

Yes she was, on both occasions. ANd if this was my childs teacher I would be on the phone this very minute requesting an appointment with the school principal!

Answer 2

Well, I will say that as a teacher, perhaps I have made the same error of demanding that students speak a language I can understand. I had Asians from two different countries, latinos, and English-speakers in my classes. I always told them that they could speak any language that I knew in my class. However, this went against the current a bit, because I could speak all of those languages represented in my classroom!

I strongly advocate open-mindedness toward language learning. The more people are able to communicate in each other's language, the more understanding among people groups we will have. As it was, the latinos enjoyed speaking Spanish, but I never found the Asians using their language in class. They seemed embarrassed to speak anything but English.

It is true that some laws are forming to support an English-only America. But this is not the case universally. And I hope that Americans will wisen up before great harm to society results. Spain mandated the Castilian dialect of Spanish for decades. When that period of rule ended, the people had such a hatred for the policy that they reverted in full to their local dialects. Now, government and legal documents are written in multiple dialects in Spain, each area using its own again.

Regarding the teacher's actual comments, I think much would have depended on the context of the statement, the tone of voice, and the reason the teacher made the statements. I would think that by speaking privately with the teacher, in a non-condemnatory way, and asking her what her reasons for those statements are, it might give her a chance to clear up any misunderstandings that you may now have. On the other hand, if it doesn't clear things up, you might address it at a higher level.

Answer 3

Sounds to me she shouldn't be a teacher at all if she has no empathy. People need to realise now that America is made up of various races, cultures and languages. I can understand maybe her frustration of wanting the kids to speak English and she has a right to want English spoken only in her class but she should be nice about it. I speak 3 languages and Spanish is my native language so I feel bad for those kids. She needs to be reported because she will cause those kids to have low self esteem. And that comment about the "short yellow bus" she was way out of line because I am sure the school has handicaped children so it is insulting to them too.

Answer 4

No, she's not only not out of line but many states have proposed legislation requiring that all official documentation be written only in English and that all citizens be required to know at least a passing level of English. There are similar laws to require all government business to be done in English only, the prohibit the use of other languages in schools, courtrooms, and in government buildings.

France has had laws requiring the use of French only in official business for many years. Other countries have required the use of an official language such as Spain, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Brazil, and many others. The U.S. and Canada are fairly late to the show as far as an official government language goes.

Answer 5

Sounds like the teacher is trying to be 'cool' and on the level of the kids.....using terms they use.

It's not appropriate, it's not necessary. Time to talk to the principal.