[Grovenet] Habla English?

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

I asked a question Allen. I didn't postulate a problem. Certainly a well
known and widely discussed problem is associated with my question: a number
of people who live here can't communicate in English.

My question was NOT about schools, but over the upcoming town meeting,
wondering why the meeting invitation was distributed in both Spanish and
English unless some method is available for Spanish-only speaking people to
participate. 

If I was in Russia and got an invitation, written in English, to a meeting,
I'd expect the meeting to be conducted in English or at least by
English-speaking people. I agree, in our case that's not a reasonable
expectation. Indeed, I'd object if we ever wanted to make being bilingual a
requirement to serve in city government or on the council. 

So why was the invitation sent out in Spanish? 

No accommodation for Spanish-only speaking people was made in previous town
meetings that I've attended. If, as you suggest, the number of Spanish-only
speaking people here is dropping, why provide special accommodations for
them now, if that's what is happening? 

Did some folks, perhaps, offer to donate their time acting as translators at
the meeting? That would be a great service to reach that declining number of
Spanish-only speaking folks you mention. 

Or is there something else going on? 

Those are all questions, not "problems", by the way <G>. 

Ron D'Eau Claire 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com [mailto:grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com] On
Behalf Of Dale Wiley
Sent: Sunday, January 14, 2007 9:36 AM
To: 'Forest Grove local interests list'
Subject: Re: [Grovenet] Habla English?


38.7 % District wide at fall enrollment.

This is a fast changing demographic. At various school functions I attend
each year, the percentage of Espanol'only speakers is dropping, as there are
a lot of second generation parents now, that are American educated and very
bilingual.

There is always going to be a number of households where the parents are not
FLUENT, in English, but the children are and they can translate for the
parents in various situations. Dispensing information to these non English
speaking parents is as important as to the English speaking parents, and I
would imagine the District is more concerned with getting the message across
to all PARENTS.

Espanol' translations are avaliable at virtually all District functions, and
upon request to the District office. It seems to me that if you have a
demographic of 38%, that does not indicate that all 38% are non English
speaking, just that is the level of Hispanic enrollment in the District.

Considering the circumstances that make these non English speaking parents
that, by virtue of their age and education levels, I see no reason not to
communicate with them in the best way possible. After all, I venture to say
that the majority of them are homeowners or renters, and therefore pay taxes
supporting the District.

-----Original Message-----
From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com [mailto:grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com]On
Behalf Of Allen Warren
Sent: Saturday, January 13, 2007 4:52 PM
To: Forest Grove local interests list
Subject: Re: [Grovenet] Habla English?


For several years (I think it's been at least that long) our sons' mailings
from FG schools have english on one side and spanish on the other.  And
after attending numerous school concerts, honor roll assemblies and other
school functions I understand why the bi-lingual papers: I would estimate at
a minimum the hispanic student population is 35%.  And I will guess that
percentage is higher in the Cornelius elementary school system.  It's easy
to see how much the Hispanic population has grown in WA county.

Ron, I think it's a stretch to believe the annual Community Meeting will be
held as Spanish being the primary language.  At the school functions there
are translators but those are mainly for the parents as most students are
bi-lingual.

So what's the problem?

Allen Warren


----- Original Message ----
From: Ron D'Eau Claire <rondec at easystreet.com>
To: Forest Grove local interests list <grovenet at rdrop.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 13, 2007 4:12:19 PM
Subject: [Grovenet] Habla English?


I notice in the current City bill an Invitation to the Annual Community
Meeting. The invitation is in Spanish on one side.

Is that so our non-English, Spanish speaking citizens will know to attend?

So, will everything be translated for them at the meeting, or will the
meeting be held in Spanish?

If so, why?


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