Thursday, October 26, 2006

Tancredo opposes kindergarteners learning English (CO-06)

In April of 2005, Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo introduced a Constitutional Amendment that would have declared English the official language of the United States. HJ Res. 43 stated that "As the official language, the English language shall be used for all public acts including every order, resolution, vote, and election, and for all records and judicial proceedings of the Government of the United States and the governments of the several States."

Perhaps it's schizophrenia or a mild form of dementia that has led Tancredo to now reverse his previous stand on bilingualism after spending years decrying what he called the "balkanizing and 'bilingualizing' America." Apparently Mad Tom now sees no need for Spanish speaking children to learn what he would make the official language of the nation.


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Colorado schools have long offered in-class and after-school programs for children with various special needs, one being English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for those unable to speak English.

Recently Tancredo put out a press release stating that he had sent a letter to Colorado State Board of Education Commissioner William J. Moloney "questioning the school districts choice to offer all day education to Elementary Spanish speaking students while offering only a half day to English speakers."

Using the kind of convoluted logic he has become famous for, Tancredo went on to say:

“Parents of English-speaking students have been told they are not eligible for all-day kindergarten because their children do not need the English-language instruction provided to Spanish-language students,” said Tancredo, Chairman of the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus. “I want to know if such programs are legal under federal and state non-discrimination laws. Can children be denied an equal education just because their native language is English?”
Tancredo.house.gov


It would probably be safe to assume that Mr. Tancredo has not actually set foot in a school in years given the nature of his statement. If he had, he would have seen numerous examples of the kind of "discrimination" he's complaining of. Students with all sorts of physical and learning disabilities are routinely given "special education" not afforded other students. These programs vary from personal tutors for the learning disabled to speech therapy for children with impediments. Likewise, those who are gifted take part in programs that provide extra challenges and opportunities not available to all students. All these programs are based upon the needs of the individual child and what best serves their educational development.
The Douglas County School District (DCSD) stated that, "We base our decisions as a district on the needs of our students." The DCSD statement continued, "This program is added on to the typical kindergarten school day," describing the program as "no different from other programs our district offers to provide early intervention to students with unique needs."…

According to the Board of Education, the English as a Second Language (ESL) and related programs exist for forty-five different languages as well as sign-language. In Douglas County alone, the programs serve the needs of over 1,000 students at more than fifty schools from kindergarten through high school.
link

Perhaps just to make things "fair" for Mr. Tancredo, the schools could offer after-school programs to teach Spanish to those students who are linguistically challenged and speak only English. But somehow I don't think that's what Tom had in mind.

Obviously Mr. Tancredo isn't fazed by the fact that many of the five year olds to whom he would deny ESL classes, are US citizens born in this country.

One can only wonder how the majority of Mr. Tancredo's followers feel about the idea of a new generation of children being left behind by the educational system, simply to appease his political ambition. Given the ignorance and stupidity we've seen from Tancredo, it's obvious he holds little value for education or learning, hopefully his small-mindedness is not indicative of the majority.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Hypocrits, the whole lot of them. On a similar note, if they're so concerned with the "working class", then why are most of these screeching vultures anti-union?

Anonymous said...

how do they not realize how utterly stupid they sound?

Anonymous said...

I hope this is something you can use on your website:

Our suspicions have been confirmed based on the posts below. Now, they advocate using drugs in the home - that's OK but not at the border where Minuteman are? The hypocrisy of it all. I would provide a link but that just increases their Web status. You can find them via a cloud of smoke.

I changed my mind, here it is:

http://www.saveourstate.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=18456

Post #1


Rookie


Group: Activists
Posts: 368
Joined: 15-May 06
Member No.: 2732



Stay away from the Minutemen who help monitor the border. We do not allow or want drugs and drug users around our sector. We have a code that does not permit or tolerate such an amoral habit or conduct. You undermined what we stand for, and put us in jeopardy of being “kicked off” the border.

If you feel the need to go the border and hang out and party, go do it with skin heads. If in the slight chance there is a violent action against us, the last thing we need is some dumb punk who is doped up and is armed with a hand gun.

Some Americans may think that drugs are cool, and because of your demand for drugs you are responsible for the violent Mexican suppliers who feed your “demand”. You are at fault and you should not blame the Mexican suppliers. Campo is a drug corridor for the Felix drug cartel. The last thing we need is an American drug fiend hanging around with the Minutemen.

Stay the hell away, or I will turn in your sorry ass to the authorities


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Lets Roll.........



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Last Great Hope Today, 11:01 AM Post #2


Soldier


Group: Activists
Posts: 1539
Joined: 25-April 05
Member No.: 374



Who's doing drugs?


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PRESS #1 FOR ENGLISH. PRESS #2 TO PISS OFF 'CUZ WE AREN'T SPEAKING ANYTHING ELSE!!!





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Weasel Today, 11:02 AM Post #3


Rookie


Group: Activists
Posts: 368
Joined: 15-May 06
Member No.: 2732



Thay know who they are.


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Lets Roll.........



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Last Great Hope Today, 11:06 AM Post #4


Soldier


Group: Activists
Posts: 1539
Joined: 25-April 05
Member No.: 374



Send me a PM. We need them kicked out of SOS if they exist.


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PRESS #1 FOR ENGLISH. PRESS #2 TO PISS OFF 'CUZ WE AREN'T SPEAKING ANYTHING ELSE!!!





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mixbreed Today, 11:11 AM Post #5


Soldier


Group: Activists
Posts: 1601
Joined: 13-May 05
Member No.: 537



edited. I reread what I posted and it sounded like I advocated using drugs, and I don't.



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AyatollahGondola Today, 11:20 AM Post #6


Northern Field Associate


Group: Moderators
Posts: 4546
Joined: 20-February 05
From: Sacramento
Member No.: 155



QUOTE(mixbreed @ Oct 29 2006, 11:11 AM)


QUOTE(Last Great Hope @ Oct 29 2006, 11:01 AM)

Who's doing drugs?



Why, you shopping?



QUOTE(Last Great Hope @ Oct 29 2006, 11:06 AM)

Send me a PM. We need them kicked out of SOS if they exist.



Hey! If we embrace the anti-christ, what's wrong with a few dopers. Not that I'm one and can understand why the MM wouldn't want them on the border, but if they keep it to themselves, no harm no foul.



Embracing Homos and anti-christs won't necessarily get you arrested. Being in the company of dope possessors is a sure way to earn your way to a guilt-by-association arrest during a traffic stop or party bust.

Do you know if they are actually SOS members weasel? Not long timers though, right?

I gotta tell you weasel; that thread topic kind of indicts all SOS as guilty from a distance. a little re-wording perhaps?


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QUOTE
Immigration to America is like what prescription drugs are to patients. Too little is ineffective. Too much...a poison
AyatollahGondola
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E=MC(2) It may not have been declared law yet, but it's just a matter of time.
Alex Friendly




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USA today Today, 11:48 AM Post #7


Net Divorce Pending


Group: Activists
Posts: 5941
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Member No.: 1416



jmo

In the privacy of your home maybe

but in a place that can harm the cause , never


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Victim of an illegal alien attack



Time to get ready for the storm
(Stevie Ray)



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mixbreed Today, 11:59 AM Post #8


Soldier


Group: Activists
Posts: 1601
Joined: 13-May 05
Member No.: 537



edited.



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H.T. Flouncerton Today, 12:02 PM Post #9


4th Class Citizen


Group: Activists
Posts: 501
Joined: 27-May 06
From: Yakima (Los Hades) WA.
Member No.: 2867



Yep, the home is the place for such things, I wouldn't call it amoral though


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Pure Evil
I'm in WA state. Where in Aztlan is that on the map?




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mixbreed Today, 01:33 PM Post #10


Soldier


Group: Activists
Posts: 1601
Joined: 13-May 05
Member No.: 537



edited.