In my home growing up, I was told to speak Spanish inside our home to preserve the little bit we could of our culture, and speak English else where. I'm fluent in Spanish, English and French and can understand quite a bit of Italian. As a mother that I am now, I teach my son both languages. I don't see anything wrong with teaching him to speak our language. What I teach my son inside my four walls that I pay monthly to keep shouldn't be no one's problem. My son is fluent in both languages, even though he speaks more English. People should be more open minded and stop criticizing and judging others by what language they speak at the home. Pick up a hobby, maybe try learning another language, even if it isn't Spanish. Put those brain cells to work! I consider myself an all-American...but I try to preserve my Hispanic culture too. And if the only way to preserve it is speaking Spanish in my home and eating rice and beans when I get a chance, then I believe that's it's no one's business how I choose to do it. In my son's class, there are 2 students whose parents barely speak English...and they're NOT Hispanic. They speak French. In the mornings, those two parents speak French amongst themselves and I have no problem with that (besides that fact that I do understand what they're saying). They're kids speak perfect English and French. Is there a problem with that? I believe NOT! By giving the help early on to these 3 & 4 year olds will prevent them from becoming those "adults" who do nothing with their lives because of the language barrier.

Chika, that's great that you are teaching both languages to your son. We have friends who teach their children only English, while there are elderly relatives living in their home who speak only Chinese. Frankly, it's weird and kind of sad to realize that these children are missing out on the joy of relating to their elders and learning about their heritage and family history from them.

". I don't see anything wrong with teaching him to speak our language. What I teach my son inside my four walls that I pay monthly to keep shouldn't be no one's problem. My son is fluent in both languages" ChickaChickaBoomBoom

Well, good for you. If your entire community felt that way, there would be no need to spend millions, would there? If you were in the majority in your community, I would not be hearing Spanish spoken by parents to their children, at say Giants, on such a routine basis, would I? I probably wouldn't be addressed in Spanish when I pull up to the Manor Shop. McD's, would I?

No you wouldn't if other Hispanics were taught as I was taught, but then again I've never had the pleasure of being greeted at a McD's in Spanish, because even if I would, I wouldn't know how to say the order in Spanish (visited the island and felt very stupid trying to say "Happy Meal" in Spanish and was corrected and taught that it's "Caja Majica" <Ka-ha Ma-he-ka> which doesn't make sense because that means "Magic Box") Anways, it would be a lot better if the older Hispanics would at least TRY to learn English so everyone would be happy.

If I may, defend WW, very carefully. I don't think he is being selfish or hateful. I too have the same frustrations as he does when it comes to laziness being the reason the children are not being taught English. If you live here, in Lancaster County, you have numerous FREE programs to assimilate yourself. If you choose not to do that, you are causing tax payers money. Period. That is where i think his and my frustration comes from. He has made it clear he has no problem with speaking Spanish in the home. Preserve your culture all you want but know if you are not from here, you most likely CHOSE to come here so assimilate or deal with the consequences.
With that said, I am torn about the program. It is costing me money, but do I want to pay for these children now for a few years or for the rest of their lives? I don't want my English speaking child to be kept from a good education because the teacher needs twice as much time to teach the children with poor English comprehension. Or cockiness to say they are fluent but then use they're when their is more appropriate. So, maybe now is the time to teach the children better English skills but back to agreeing with WW, this is just treating the effect. The cause is the parent who chooses not to assimilate and educate themselves and therefore their children. I'll say it again, I'm torn about the program. Some of you may remember a similar thread awhile back where I shared the story of the Spanish-speaking single Mom who worked to teach her child English first. She is financially strapped and her son was denied entrance to this program because he did too well on the qualifiying tests. I want my tax dollars to help her, not the lazy non-working parent who now gets all day to sit and do nothing while my tax dollars pays for her daycare. Even welfare recipients can't get CCIS (daycare assistance) without having a job or going to school. I'm interested to hear the differing sides ont his thread.