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DEL.ICIO.USIs Henry County becoming bilingual?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A few weeks ago I took Samuel to see the magic show at the Cochran library in Stockbridge. While waiting in the children’s wing with my 15-month-old daughter Ava, I noticed an interesting book on the table. I don’t remember the title or have any idea what it was about; it caught my eye because it was written “en Espanol.”
This made me curious, so I asked my friend Kathy White, the children’s librarian at Cochran, if there were many other Spanish titles available here. She said no, but many more were needed because there were plenty of Spanish-speaking visitors in the children’s room each week.
She then told me that Stockbridge Elementary School had a full-time bilingual parapro on staff during the 2006-07 school year. This got my attention, because I had wanted for some time to learn more about how Henry County is dealing with an increasing number of residents whose native language is not English.
During the next few months I am planning a series for my newscast on how various Henry County agencies handle the language issue, starting with the school system. This is no doubt affecting many areas, including the court system, law enforcement, emergency services, and who knows what else.
What are your experiences? Do you have children in a local school where languages other than English are the norm? Have you witnessed episodes at the courthouse or the tag office, or maybe Henry Medical Center, where a translator was needed?
For the record, I am completely in favor of making English the state’s official language and having immigrants adapt to that as quickly as possible. But that cannot happen overnight, and while Henry grows at a rapid rate, this issue will not go away anytime soon.
Permalink | Comments (14) | Post your comment | Categories: Monroe Roark
Comments
By Larry
July 9, 2007 5:19 PM | Link to this
Is Henry County becoming bilingual?
I appreciate the need for communities to enjoy peaceful coexitence among various cultures. And it is a good thing for individuals to learn more than one language.
When I read the article’s title I immediately thought of road signs, government documents, AMT machines, election ballots, etc. The cost is tremendously high in many US communities where the taxpayer must foot the bill for hosting people who cannot speak out language.
In answer to the query: I certainly disagree with any PC effort to accomodate non-English speakers in ways that poses a cost US taxpayers.
I understand that businesses will seek to serve people regardless of their mother tongue. I expect that from my travels.
However, when it comes to road signs, legal documents/notices, etc. I will lead the charge against any politician who proposes spending one dime on it.
English should be adopted as the official national language. Period.
By This is the USA
July 10, 2007 10:46 AM | Link to this
Adopt English as the offical language, and have non-English speaking residents adapt. Period.
By Cee
July 10, 2007 12:42 PM | Link to this
I was born in Colombia, (south america) not Carolina, my native language is Spanish, and I have no problem with making English the “official” language, but it does not give a solution to the problem. Spanish along with Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and every other language will still be spoken by those who speak it. There is not a quick fix to this, I learned English at a public school’s english program when I was 10 years old, that obviously was paid by tax payers, it took me 6 months to learn the language being around it 24/7 and having classes 5 days a week. For an adult with a full-time job and little resources, it will take a very long time to pick the language. I dont know what the solution is but making English the “official” language is just as much of a waist of my tax dollars as it is yours.
By henryite
July 10, 2007 1:33 PM | Link to this
Are you kidding me? People in Georgia asking that English be the official language? Have you looked at the state of education in Georgia? The state is perpetually last in the national lists. Once the supposed English speakers of this state can master their own language maybe you’ll be a tad more credible when criticizing others, until that time - give me a break!
By NitroGuy
July 10, 2007 1:59 PM | Link to this
My wife and step-daughter are from Panama. My Step-daughter went to a DoDDs(Dept of Defense) school for kindergarten and 1st grade where english was taught by immersion. In my opinion this is the only way to teach/learn english.
Nothing wrong with being bi-lingual I am myself. But this is America and english needs to be the language spoken to conduct official business.
By Dee
July 10, 2007 2:07 PM | Link to this
Bi-lingual service industries and Spanish only services will have an uproar if we try to take away their economic meal ticket.
By Bob
July 10, 2007 5:33 PM | Link to this
To Cee, Of course different languages are always going to be spoken here. That’s fine. I think what bothers us is seeing all the packaging, signs, government forms, etc. printed with multiple languages and driving down an American street and seeing nothing but signs in Spanish.
By Cee
July 11, 2007 9:36 AM | Link to this
To Bob, ok, I can see why you would be bother if Goverment forms are translated to Spanish, and in some counties or gov. offices in many other languages, because that’s paid by tax money. Now packaging, ads, signs are totally diiferent…If you see packaging in spanish or any other language, odds are the product is not from the USA, but rather imported. Ads and signs are paid for by the businesses, car dealerships, restaurants, banks, grocery stores, hais salons, you name it, just go up and down Buford Hwy, these are meant to target a particular customer or group of people, if these businesses were not making money off the business they get from the ads, you would not see them. There is millions of dollars being poured back in to the economy by these patrons, and if makes them at ease to go bank at a Korean bank, or buy a car from someone who speaks their language, these business owners will continue to put more signs to enhance their sales. In the end it all boils down to money, as it so often does.
By JC
July 12, 2007 8:01 AM | Link to this
Like “CEE”, I was also born in Colombia, South America. When I first came to the US, it took me good 4-5 months to learn the language. I agree with all the comments about making English the official language for all official business. As far as signs, packaging and commercials…it’s all private industry for profit, government has no control over that. Now, people speaking different languages around us everyday? That’s here to stay! the Constitution talks about freedom of speech, but does not specify in what language…so, it’s still wide open. Parents should make every effort to have their kids learn a second language, believe me…those kids will be ahead of all the others in school.
By Akagi
July 12, 2007 12:59 PM | Link to this
I don’t see why Americans get so upset at seeing other languages.
Other countries have government forms, street signs, etc in English and I have yet to hear people from these places complain all that much.
Now if you are talking about voting, then yes, these should be English-only.
By Coachlover
July 12, 2007 2:17 PM | Link to this
I am an ELF (English Language Facilitator) for HCS. You might know my former title name better as an ESOL teacher. I am rather surprised at the hate directed at innocent children that did not have a say in being here in the USA. Most of it is from Bible thumping, hypocrites with little compassion. If we don’t educate our students with limited english profiency in both languages when possible, you can expect to be paying taxes galore for jail cells when they are older. I am particularly disappointed with the school systems in Georgia that do not (will not) provide a classroom for these youngsters to be properly taught. How do you expect them to learn, if you take away their means. Let us not forget, once they are born here, they are legal citizens and there are laws that protect their educational rights. Hopefully, Henry and other counties will follow the law before they are sued by legal, savvy, citizens of other languages. Just because someone speaks with an accent doesn’t make them illegal or less deserving of laws of Title IX. Embrace diversity Henry, it’s what Jesus would want. But then again, he’s the only Jew some consider righteous. When rapture comes, I wonder if instructions will be given in English only! Why even bother with the many translations of the bible in anything other than English in Georgia. Georgia will forever be 48th, 49th, or 50th in education with this backwood thinking and ignorance.
By Bob Evans
July 12, 2007 2:33 PM | Link to this
English is the language of Henry County. While at Golden Corral recently I asked an employee serving desserts if this was chocolate cake. Needles to say, she turned to another employee, who, in very broken English let me know they did not speak our language.
By Koz
July 13, 2007 8:38 AM | Link to this
ELF - you don’t live in a tree and bake cookies do you (oh sorry you probably bake Sopaipillas)?
By whatcountryisthis?
July 13, 2007 1:10 PM | Link to this
Please press 1 for english.