Principal Criticized For Delivering Graduation Speech In Spanish

[The Northerner]

ZEPHYR COVE, Nev. (CBS13) – He congratulated the graduating class of 2011, but one but one principal’s commencement speech actually offended some in the crowd.

The graduating class at Whittell High School has only 30 students. Just a few weeks ago during graduation their principal gave an encouraging speech congratulating his students and their parents.

“Class of 2011, I want to congratulate you for all your accomplishments this year,” said Principal Crespin Esquivel.

He then said the same thing in Spanish, making sure his commencement speech could also be understood by his Spanish speaking parents and students who make up the second largest group of the school.

Read more: http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2011/06/27/principal-criticized-for-delivering-graduation-speech-in-spanish/

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Good for him! He says he'll do the same thing again next year.

[Angry Dragon]

2. A guy tries to do something good and gets blasted

[Brother Buzz]

3. The principal will probably do the same thing next year with the same spiteful people complaining

[hakko936]

4. Unpopular opinion on the way....

Don't you have to pass English to graduate high school? If that is the case, then why should he feel the need to do the speech in Spanish. Your students should be fluent in English or they probably didn't meet the requirments to graduate.

Just saying.....

[LiberalAndProud]

5. Often, parents and even grandparents attend graduation ceremonies.

Would that surprise you?

[LeftyMom]

6. RTFA

He then said the same thing in Spanish, making sure his commencement speech could also be understood by his Spanish speaking parents and students who make up the second largest group of the school.

[Taverner]

13. Exactly. BTW, I had to think when I saw "RFTA"

Is he referencing some European Airline?

I'm tired, what can I say?

[earthside]

7. It's called 'pandering'.

The language that all the students should understand should be sufficient.

The necessity for and the marvel of a system of public education in a land of immigrants is that we all learn to communicate with each other -- despite our cultural differences.

The principal is actual perpetuating an illiberal value.

[FLSurfer]

10. interesting thought. I actually had to look up the word

illiberal. Never heard it before.

1. narrowminded; bigoted.
2. Archaic .
a. not generous in giving; miserly; niggardly; stingy.
b. Chiefly Literary . without culture or refinement; unscholarly; vulgar.

WHich definition fits?

[WatsonT]

18. Ah come on, do you have something against balkanization?

I mean, it worked out well for the balkans right?

/kinda want to move to Mexico, live there illegally and then demand everything be printed/written in english as well because I don't want to learn Spanish. See how that goes.

//just kidding, I know exactly how that would go.

[roody]

28. No seas malanota.

[roody]

20. No lo creo.

[Pacifist Patriot]

23. No seas hablamierda.

[ieoeja]

8. Don't you have to read English to post on DU?

From the OP: "Spanish speaking parents".

[earthside]

9. Irrelevant.

Since it is a requirement for citizenship that a person have the ability to read, write and speak ordinary English, well, then the parents should be able to understand a commencement address in English, too.

[jberryhill]

15. It is?

This is news to all of the US citizens in Puerto Rico, I'm sure.

The usual requirement for citizenship is being born in the US (and a couple of other categories). I had no idea that reading, writing, or speaking ANYTHING was required to be a US citizen.

Gee, the things one learns on DU...

[frylock]

17. are you part of the speak english or die movement?

[Taverner]

12. Por que no te gustan los hispanicos?

Creo que tu esta racisto y ignorante

[Pacifist Patriot]

21. Yo tambien.

[ceile]

25. !

:)

[jberryhill]

14. Dunno about you, but my grandmother didn't have to take anything for me to graduate high school

[Pacifist Patriot]

22. I don't have a problem with your opinion.

I have a problem with your response having no bearing on what actually transpired and why.

[proud2BlibKansan]

24. The parents and family members might not speak English

The graduates aren't the only ones he was talking to. :eyes:

[xocet]

26. It is ironic that you mention proficiency....

Unpopular opinion on the way....
Posted by hakko936

Don't you have to pass English to graduate high school? If that is the case, then why should he feel the need to do the speech in Spanish. Your students should be fluent in English or they probably didn't meet the requirments (sic) to graduate.

Just saying.....

[Name removed]

30. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Taverner]

11. Ahhhh Zephyr Cove, the Teabagistan of Tahoe

Tahoe is two worlds: The California Side (hippies, ski bums and other human beings) and The Nevada Side (Teabaggers and other Derps)

Zephyr Cove is deep in the heart of Nevadan Tahoe, where the only good reason to be there is the cheap liquor.

[struggle4progress]

16. Hey! I remember reading this story in high school: "A Lotta Noisy Fuggin Ado about Nuthin"

or sumthin like that

It was by that famous guy whose name I am sure that you would recognize it if you saw it

The basic plot was that there was a whole fuggin lotta noisy ado about nuthin whatsoever

Life imitates art!

[avebury]

19. I have no problem with what the Principal did. People need

to remember that English was not the original language of this continent and get over the air of superiority when it comes to the English language.

[WatsonT]

29. Neither was spanish

[ceile]

27. So. In a class of 30...

of which a good portion are of Hispanic descent. There is a problem of accommodating a percentage of 30 graduates and their parents, family, etc. Really?! They're not a class of 500...ugh.:eyes: