◆ SpookStack

Wilh varying degrees of msislence, schoo] authorities of the Valley have laid down 2 policy against the use of Span- ish in Ube classroom and playground, except of course in Spanish language classes. * , . This is one of 13 items of Compiaint which a group of students in the Etsa-Edcouch area have cited as being “dis- eripunalory’ in nature. ; it would seem 10 us that it is tot only reasonable but ex- treme. persuasive thai the use of Engiish during ihe schooi day shouid be encouraged. This is not a miatter of ‘‘dis- crimination” but simply a method of trying to improve the student's fluency in the language which happens te be the prevaient and official one of the county in which he is living. r Among the real, as opposed 9 apparent, disadvantages | of the “‘disadvantaged" people of this country is difficulty \ & with uke Engiish language. Anyone with an obvious ufd mag: «| meng deficiency in the use of Engiish is. in this country, al a distinct disadvamage, not because of c.serigunation (using thal word as a synonym for prejudice or b-as) but because that person lacks a very Dasic toot for his own well-being. ‘A genius in the engineering department whe cannot com- munitate fis thoughts with accuracy and ease is a self - conlaned Litde package, working largely for his own amuse- : ment. complishment — an advamtage, if you will. But to be barciy literale in two languages and accoimplisied in neither is not henpful. Keeping — or porfecting—knowiedge of Spanish is com- mendable. But the mere fact that Spanish is the “natural” language used by the student outside the classroom is in- dicative of his lack of comfort with Engiish. No laws pass- ed by the government abd no sermons preached from the pulpit will erase the disadvantage of the iman or woman whose English is crude or halting. | | | Fiueney in more than one languaze is a splesdd ac- l ! - The effort at self-improvernent dictates that young peo ple should accept willingly the cialenge to learn to use Lhe English language, not gingerly as one wears a stiff shirt at 2 formal function, but as the language of first instance and a source of comfort and advancement