Spanish-language GED plan sparks debate
By Bobbi Mlynar (Contact)
Originally published 03:05 p.m., May 15, 2008
Updated 03:05 p.m., May 15, 2008
School board members at a Wednesday night meeting asked for more information about a proposed Spanish-language GED Plus diploma program, and tabled the matter until questions could be answered.
George Abel, superintendent of teaching and curriculum, presented information about two proposed changes for GED classes. GED Plus diplomas, with classes in both English and Spanish, had been recommended. The “Plus” portion of the course would include a high school diploma for completing additional requirements beyond the 21-hour equivalent of the traditional GED course. English speakers would have to complete the GED course, plus American government and history, as well as one consumer education and one English class. Spanish speakers would need to have additional English classes to qualify for the diploma in Spanish.
Each diploma would reflect that it was done through a GED program.
Abel said that the district would need to contract with an outside entity to provide the Spanish GED Plus.
Board member Mike Helbert raised the first question.
“Are we doing any of our students a favor by telling them that it’s okay to get a GED in Spanish when they have to compete in an English-speaking world?” Helbert asked.
“Quite frankly, to me, we’re dumbing down our education standards for people who don’t speak English, which is an absolute skill for people to succeed in the U.S. I’ve got a real problem with that. ... I don’t see how we’re doing anybody a favor by saying, ‘Look, if you can’t pass it in English, we’ll let you take it in Spanish, I don’t think that’s doing anything for the students or for the population or for the public.”
Homer Garza, another board member, said he thought a Spanish GED Plus would be a good idea.
“Just because they do it in Spanish doesn’t mean they’re not ready for the work world,” Garza said, adding that his parents read, write and speak English very well, but would be more comfortable taking the test in Spanish.
“I don’t think we’re lowering our educational standards,” Garza said.
Patricia Smiley, director of integrated services for the school district, said that the Spanish GED Plus would enable bilingual Hispanics to take jobs with, for example, the school district, which requires that each employee have at least a high school diploma.
“A lot of our Spanish-speaking students aren’t able to get jobs because of that Spanish-speaking diploma,” Smiley said.
Helbert said that it appeared there were two different standards.
“We have an English speaking standard and a Spanish-speaking standard for our students,” he said. “Is that right? I mean, is it morally right? ... I think we’re short-selling these kids because we’re saying you can take less of a test and get through it.”
“How is it less of a test?” Garza asked.
“If I went to Mexico, I don’t think I could take the GED in English,” Helbert said. “If you went to any country in the world, you have to use the dominating language in that country in order to be successful.”
Helbert asked if there had been requests for a GED Plus in Spanish; Abel said he could not answer that question.
Board member Angie Schreiber asked how the program would be financed.
“If we’re already on a tight budget, where’s the money coming from?” Schreiber asked.
“I suppose it’s going to be one of those costs that are shared with us and ESSDACK (Educational Services and Staff Development Association of Central Kansas),” Abel responded.
Mary Helmer said that she agreed with Schreiber.
“I think we need to know these costs,” Helmer said. “Can we have a comparison of what we do now and what this is going to be? I’m not comfortable with any of it until we really know.”
The board voted 6-0 to table the issue until more information is provided by district staff. The seventh board member, Mike Crouch, was out of town and could not attend the meeting.
In other action, the board
F Approved a contract with the Cottonwood Group of Overland Park to advise the district on its 403(b) investment plan. CWA will be paid $10,000 annually; travel expenses will be billed separately to the district and the costs of special-project work will be filled on a time and materials basis, according to the contract. The hourly rate for the work ranges from $185 to $270, depending upon which employee is doing the work.
F Approved the summer school program for Emporia Middle School. Principal Steve Ternes said letters recommending summer school for some students had gone out last week. He has received telephone calls from a number of parents who said they planned to move from the district and asked how they should handle summer school needs for their youngsters going into other districts.
F Approved the first of three phases to replace computer network equipment that is approximately eight years old. The manufacturer soon will no longer support the equipment. The cost for this phase will be $75,512.88 in networking equipment and approximately $9,000 for installation. Money will come from the Supplemental General Fund. Assistant Superintendent of Finance Susan Hernandez said that the replacements were part of the five-year plan and are not part of the costs of moving the central office to the Mary Herbert Education Center.
F Accepted a donation of $1,500 from the Timmerman PTO, to be used for the school’s needs.
Comments
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Posted by rcr (anonymous) on May 15, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Absolutely not. Board member Helbert has a extremely valid point. Immigrants over history have been required to adopt the language and education standards of our country. The continued push for communities to lessen it's standards to accomodate individuals ethnicity has dumbed down the process. My guess is that member Garza's parents read, write and speak fluent English is a result of their generation holding firm to standards and they them assimilated. Please don't make me decide to take my tax monies to a community that will maintain minimum standards.
Posted by dhcc66 (anonymous) on May 15, 2008 at 7:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
thank you rcr. my forefathers made it a priority to learn the language and to abide by the laws and to take pride in being a new american citizen who works hard for an honest dollar and takes care of himself/herself and their family. i would hope that anybody who wants to be here in this country would have some of the same values because that is part of what has made this a strong nation
Posted by vh1983 (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 2:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What happened to all of the posts against offering the GED in Spanish that were on this site earlier? How typical of Emporia. Show your disapproval and someone gets ticked off and removes them.
I said it before and I'll say it again, though I'm sure it will be removed again. I think Helbert made some very valid points. It's not right to allow immigrants (many of whom are here illegally) to just coast by. It's not going to help them and it's not going to help those of us who are citizens and don't speak Spanish. If they want to live and work in an English-speaking country, they need to learn English.
Posted by glarson (Gwen Larson) on May 16, 2008 at 6:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Dear vh1983:
No comments were removed. You've run into an internal glitch where two versions of the same story get posted to The Gazette's Web site. Your earlier comment is on this version:
http://www.emporiagazette.com/news/2008/...
Gwen Larson
Managing Editor
Posted by karmadog (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 9:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Dear dhcc66, your forefathers did not make it a priority to learn the language or abide by the laws. They did not learn the Native American language and stole the land from those who rightfully owned it. I think we would be a world class leader by allowing a Spanish GED test. Why do "what's always been done." Aren't we the giant "melting pot." I'd love to learn Spanish and I hope my children do, in the future. There are several spanish-speaking businesses in town and I have no problem communicating. As Mr. Garza said, not all jobs require English language at 100% understanding. And, the only way to improve either language skill is to continue practising. If someone can pass the GED because it is in Spanish and get a job that's good for practise and our economy. Why create a group of people without diplomas?
Posted by USNretired (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What is the cost vs benefit of this GED? If it is just feel good bs then it is still bs. If it will benefit us (the population) then feel free to give us a breakdown. Too much diversity leads to "divided we fall". America's melting pot is like soup, we only include that which enhances the flavor for all, not strange things to please the few.
Posted by ProudHispanicCitizen (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 12:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why do some Americans feel the need to cater to the Mexican population? That is what is happening! I am sorry but if you want to come to the United States and want to build a live for you and yours you HAVE to learn our language and follow the ways of this country. Don’t they have some pride to want to do this for themselves and their families then to be placed in a position where they don’t understand what is going on around them unless they have their children translating for them…..what is that! And here are people that want to say look it is okay if you want to be incompetent because we will cater to you and change our ways to better suit you. Don’t worry about learning a language that is most commonly used, a language that in order for you to succeed should/must be learned, we’ll just CATER to you!!! Why just them….what about Vietnamese people, why not create a GED program for them. How ridiculous does that sound?? When I think about the benefits that the Mexicans already get, the ones that are here illegally and lets not deny that there are lots of them, they don’t pay taxes, they take our countries monies and then what does a majority do with it, send it to Mexico, for it to be used over there. What about those Mexican women that claim they don’t know who the father of their child is and that they need assistance, they receive assistance that working Americans get taxed for and meanwhile their men, most likely illegal work. There are some many wrongs that happen and that they reap the rewards from, NOT RIGHT, not right at all and then to still say look we’ll dumbing down our education standards. WHAT!!! Are you kidding me.
Posted by USNretired (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 12:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
karmadog: So learn Spanish. Most of us speak some, but this is not the issue any more than your omniscience concerning anyone's ancestors. Mine stole nothing from anyone that I am aware of, and Native American ancestry is far from uncommon among the local population. That is a moot point, however, since only modern history is pertinent to the present discussion.
Posted by cyberspace (anonymous) on May 17, 2008 at 1:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I strongly agree with Mr. Helbert and I thank him for standing up and representing the view of many people. That's right, most people would agree with Mr Helbert's view. Numerous polls of the American people reflect this mood. The issue is not getting enough attention but it will come election time.
Think of all the displaced Tyson Hispanic workers who are having trouble finding a job because they can't speak English. Even though many of them have been here for YEARS! Learning the English language is huge step towards future success. We are doing them no favors translating and interpreting everything for them. Yes, I do have some national pride. I am proud to be a first generation American whose parents learned English. We speak English in America and in order to remain strong all who chose to live here should learn the language! And when you come, all we ask is that you come in through the front door! We reserve the right to screen who comes and who doesn't. We don't want to become a dumping ground for criminals, the sick and mentally disabled. Yes, we do need to speed up the process of being able to get here but again, we want your best, not worst.
Posted by CassieJo (anonymous) on May 19, 2008 at 9:35 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by wirewatt (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 11:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We need to get the Civil Liberties group involved, if we are going to have the GED for one ethnic group that is discrimination. We need to have one for every culture that lives in Emporia. The school district and the county need to take care of every culture, or due what is right and do it in English. We have to admire the Asian people they come in here and learn English very quickly even thought their language is not based on Latin.
Posted by Bjnemp (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 12:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
America is not a resort for illegal Mexicans where the staff caters to the needs of the guests. No, America is our home, and when you are in someone's home you obey their rules and adjust to their lifestyle. No Spanish GEDs. No Spanish tests or diplomas. No Spanish signage, No dial two for Spanish. Learn the language, love our country, receive our welcome. Otherwise; adios.
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