Fitchburg School Committee raises bus fee - Sentinel & Enterprise

so we have been wasting money doing a split language what a crock. why is it every other generation of immigrants learned english but the last 15 20 tears worth feel the country should be conformed to them when my grandparents came to this country they had to learn english they still spoke french but only in the home and with relatives maybe if we had more people knowing english we sould have more resources for all the other programs we have become to pc no we can't pick on this group and hope they do as the ones that came before I'm all for someone looking for a better life but remember when you come to America its because you want to be an American we need to drop the Afro or Asain or Spanish etc etc American and concentrate on just being Americans

tim,

absolutely right on.

If the saying is When in Rome, do as the Romans do, if we can not apply that here?
WHY does the USA have to bend over backwards and spit wooden nickels to accomodate dozens of Minorities?
We, as Americans - can't just go to another country and demand they do the same for us. We would end up in thier court or jail for trying to over throw their government.
So why do we do it?
Take AMERICA back!

When in America, do as the Americans do.

No other country would bend over and accomodate us they way that we accomodate DOZENS of minority groups.

I am all for people having a better life, but they need to conform to Americans. Not vice versa.

Sorry for the double post. I could not see the first one.

The bilingual program jumped out at me too from the article as a waste of taxpayer resources.

Bilingual education does not work; that's why California abolished it and saw test scores rise as a result.

If Ms. Ramos' family needs enhancement, do it at home or through Spanish American center, Spanish speaking church, or other organization, not at taxpayer expense.

100 percent correct!

My parents speak their native language in the home and with family. English is spoken everywhere else hence wwe all have college educations and good paying jobs!

Stop wasting money!

Seriously what has happened over the years? Growing up I know there were ESL classes for students who were still learning English - but that was the point...English was their second language and they were being taught English in school.

I don't get it. My ancestors spoke only French - but since they wanted to live in America they learned English?

Imagine the laughter one would hear if he or she went to France, Spain, Italy, Japan, China, even Canada and demanded that they be taught in English and that all of the signs, instructions and menus must also have English versions.

I remeber the ESL? classes when i was in B.F.Brown, they where in the basement near the cafe, anywho i have seen today some of the kids who went to those classes, here we are what 20 years later and they STILL barely speak english, why? They where being taught in spanish. I also want to point out that my son who is not spanish, it was MANDATORY here in Leominster he take spanish from 1-8th grade then he could choose a dif language. Can you imagine mandatory, when he had trouble in math i asked if he could use his spanish class time to go to the library and bone up on math they said no he HAD to go to spanish, why force it on these kids? I was told it will be good for him he will have so many doors open to him by being bi-lingual, why? because of all the people who do not speak english, it just comes right back around,stop the merry go round and learn english. If i went to any other country would they trip over themselves to help me out if i didnt speak the language? HELL NO. why do we?

Last year, the program had two teachers per grade level. One would teach in English and the other in Spanish. Students would split their instructional time between the two languages in an effort to become bilingual.

When are these Spanish people going to realize that this is America and English is the native tongue. I as a taxpayer have to pay teachers to teach school in Spanish because they do not understand English ? This is totally un-acceptable. Amazing that most of the children are the Interpreters for there parents and speak perfect English.
This is still America the last time I checked and we should keep it that way.
And i did forget to mention that try shorting one of these non-speaking English people a dime in change and watch how fast the English comes flying out of there mouth that you shorted them. lol

A major point also is that people who come into this country from another country expect to have everything handed to them. And the sad thing is they do! My grandmother was kept back in 1st grade because she didn't speak English and they told her too bad, learn it. And she did - she wanted to. Nobody wants to work to become something anymore because here in America, you get whatever you want especially if you're a minority.

I have no problem for those who want to come to this country but do so leagally and come in with respect for our language and our culture (i.e. solute the flag, etc.) People come over here not wanting to be American anymore and that line of thinking needs to have a zero tolerance policy.

Seriously wrote:

A major point also is that people who come into this country from another country expect to have everything handed to them. And the sad thing is they do! My grandmother was kept back in 1st grade because she didn't speak English and they told her too bad, learn it. And she did - she wanted to. Nobody wants to work to become something anymore because here in America, you get whatever you want especially if you're a minority.
I have no problem for those who want to come to this country but do so leagally and come in with respect for our language and our culture (i.e. solute the flag, etc.) People come over here not wanting to be American anymore and that line of thinking needs to have a zero tolerance policy.

Indeed. My father came to America in 1918 from Sweden and spoke not one word of English. He was hired on the railroad and put with a crew of English speaking men. He either learned the English language or was fired. He retired from the railroad speaking very good english and not to mention he met my Finnish speaking mother and had to learn the Finnish language so he could go on a date with her. LOL and the rest is history..
GOD BLESS AMERICA>>>

Correct me if I am wrong, but are not many of the non-English speaking Hispanics coming from Puerto Rico? If this is correct, is not Puerto Rico part of this United States and is not the languaage of this country, English? Why so we see so many American Citizens unable to speak the language of this country...Is it not taught in the schools in Puerto Rico? I know many Puerto Ricans who are very successful in business and education fields who speak perfect English...why can't all of them speak perfect English? I guess I am just totally out of the loop, but when I am in Germany, I speak German...but why must I press 1 for English when I want to speak to someone in my bank? Am I out of line being resentful about this? Feel free to correct me if I am the one out of line.

The problem is that the United States has no official language written down in any law.

Let's find a new mayor

If they applied the bus fee to everyone it would be much less. How many students do not pay it because they are considered "low income"? Does anyone know the numbers. I would bet that if the fee was applied to every student regardless of income, it would be 25-40% less.

I came to this country when I was 12 years old. luckily, I was the only Hispanic in my school. For the first 6 months I Couldn't understand a thing. However, with everyone speaking English to me and taking English lessons after school, I was able to grasp our language within a year. The key for me was that no one else at school spoke Spanish to me. I had to learn English and learn it quickly. It is a disservice to any non-English speaking immigrant to go to school and be taught in their native tongue and in English. YOU learn faster by indulging yourself in English. It is also a waste of money.

Marcia wrote:

Correct me if I am wrong, but are not many of the non-English speaking Hispanics coming from Puerto Rico? If this is correct, is not Puerto Rico part of this United States and is not the languaage of this country, English? Why so we see so many American Citizens unable to speak the language of this country...Is it not taught in the schools in Puerto Rico? I know many Puerto Ricans who are very successful in business and education fields who speak perfect English...why can't all of them speak perfect English? I guess I am just totally out of the loop, but when I am in Germany, I speak German...but why must I press 1 for English when I want to speak to someone in my bank? Am I out of line being resentful about this? Feel free to correct me if I am the one out of line.

Ok they do teach English in Puerto Rico. It is also mandatory. I went to school both here and in Puerto Rico and English is a mandatory course. Most of you people fail to realize that every country has an English class because in this world if you can speak to languages you are better off. Now in this article it did not say that the classes were for students who could not speak english. Maybe just maybe this course was teaching students how to speak english and spanish at a young age so they could be bilingual and have better futures ahead of the other students who can only speak one language. Now back to Puerto Rico most older Puerto Ricans aren't going to be able to speak English because when they went to school it was not mandatory. So they either learned it or they didn't. But if you go to Puerto Rico just about everybody speaks english. In my line of work I talk to many types of people and they all tell me that english is a must in the business world and that they have to learn it when they are in school. Here you people are complaining (AS USUAL) about the school system trying to help your kids so they can have a brighter future ahead of them and all you people can point out is "my great grandmother came here in 1912 and didn't speak english and no one helped her." IT WAS 1912 ALOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T SPEAK ENGLISH. It is a NEW WORLD OUT THERE PEOPLE and if you DON'T SPEAK TWO LANGUAGES OR MORE YOU REALLY ARE AT A DISADVANTAGE. I bet most of you wouldn't be complaining when your son/daughter is a very succesful business person and is fluent in 3-4 languages, but you would be upset if he graduated high school and didn't take a foreign language and colleges said won't accept him because he has no foreign language credits so he has to settle for working at Dunkin Donuts serving everyone who did take a foreign language coffee.

Wow,
I think you have some good points but I don't think it's all so cut and dry as you put it. I waitressed in a restaurant through high school & college and the amount of people (young and old) that would come in to eat that couldn't (or didn't) speak English astounded me. I think the point is that they don't need to because their language is so available to them and therefore English doesn't have to be learned and isn't.
Being bi or tirlingual is great and you're right, it most certainly opens doors to a lot but we are in America and here we speak English. If you are in a business or a situation that requires you to whip out the other language you speak then great, do so, but if you're going to the store, or bank or going out to eat, speak English. I had so many problems as a waitress when I couldn't communicate with some customers and therefore brought them the wrong food because I had no idea what they wanted. Very frustrating. And I'm not saying it's done on purpose or anything because I understand it's very hard to be in a country where the language is not familiar to you but it does make things difficult and all that should be put forth is an effort.
I am a 2003 FHS graduate (go Red Raiders!)and I remember in school there were most certainly some kids who spoke (at least a little bit) English but refused. I remember an incident where a group of Spanish kids would not stand up to salute the flag and as an American I found that insulting. My question was and still is - What are you doing here then? You won't speak out lanuage, you won't salute our flag - this is the country you now live in and if you won't do those things then go back to where you came from. It's all a matter of respect. Respect this great country and the opportunities it provides. Coming from somewhere else and being able to speak other languages and having different cultural beliefs and practices is a beautiful thing and that's why America is so cool, but you can keep those things and still speak or learn English and educate yourself on how this country works and how we do things here.

Seriously wrote:

Wow,
I think you have some good points but I don't think it's all so cut and dry as you put it. I waitressed in a restaurant through high school & college and the amount of people (young and old) that would come in to eat that couldn't (or didn't) speak English astounded me. I think the point is that they don't need to because their language is so available to them and therefore English doesn't have to be learned and isn't.
Being bi or tirlingual is great and you're right, it most certainly opens doors to a lot but we are in America and here we speak English. If you are in a business or a situation that requires you to whip out the other language you speak then great, do so, but if you're going to the store, or bank or going out to eat, speak English. I had so many problems as a waitress when I couldn't communicate with some customers and therefore brought them the wrong food because I had no idea what they wanted. Very frustrating. And I'm not saying it's done on purpose or anything because I understand it's very hard to be in a country where the language is not familiar to you but it does make things difficult and all that should be put forth is an effort.
I am a 2003 FHS graduate (go Red Raiders!)and I remember in school there were most certainly some kids who spoke (at least a little bit) English but refused. I remember an incident where a group of Spanish kids would not stand up to salute the flag and as an American I found that insulting. My question was and still is - What are you doing here then? You won't speak out lanuage, you won't salute our flag - this is the country you now live in and if you won't do those things then go back to where you came from. It's all a matter of respect. Respect this great country and the opportunities it provides. Coming from somewhere else and being able to speak other languages and having different cultural beliefs and practices is a beautiful thing and that's why America is so cool, but you can keep those things and still speak or learn English and educate yourself on how this country works and how we do things here.

Well said.