Wednesday, November 24, 2004
Both Dem. Wings Now Back NYC Language Spending Spree
As of 2003, there were 167 languages spoken in the homes of New York City students. The Democratic Leadership Council, allegedly representing conservative Democrats, has named NYC Councilman David Yassky "New Democrat of the Week" for his proposal to require translation services into nine of those languages at all school activities:
"Translation services for parents of public school students are essential in New York City," Yassky said. "How can a parent be involved in their children's education when they can't understand what the teacher is sending home?"
Yassky announced the introduction of The Educational Equity Act. The legislation would require all Department of Education (DOE) Schools to provide timely interpretation services for parents or guardians with limited English proficiency at parent-teacher conferences, PTA gatherings, and other meetings between DOE employees and parents. It would also require the translation of all notices and report cards sent to parents. The program would translate those documents and events into the nine most commonly spoken languages among parents with limited English skills.
Yassky's expensive idea was also backed today by the paleoliberal American Prospect.
Both wings of the Democratic Party seem blissfully unaware that (1) once translations are provided for nine languages, the pressure will only increase to provide translation services in all 167 languages; (2) languages like Spanish and Chinese have more than one oral dialect while the various Creoles have no written form; and (3) coddling today's immigrants goes over quite poorly with children of previous generations of immigrants who recall their parents struggling with an English workbook after a full day's hard labor.
|posted by Jim on 2:07 PM|
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