Here's some more quality madness from Kansas:

http://www.kansas.com/mld/eagle/living/education/13337930.htm

Basta Ya!

What an incredibly arbitray abuse of power. For someone with the type of power -- real or perceived -- a principal has over a child to use that power to impose her private attitudes on the child, not to mention degrade the child, is outrageous.

This woman is not, by any reasonable definition of the term, an "educator." She should be immediately suspended.

This is rediculous on how a kid can get suspended for speaking spanish. Why are kids not allowed to speak spanish. Learning another language is very helpful for people these days how many foreign people live in the United States now a days that speak another language that kids that grow into adults that will interact with those people on a daily basis? It is very useful to know another language. That suspension was rediculous.
From,
Julian

this lady is insane the school is whack...it is his native language...and it was at recess, how can he get suspended? that is messed up.

i was just kidding about the last message...i just dont agree with it

i dont agree with what she did because he was speaking his native language and it doesnt matter where you are to which language you are speaking. i dont agree with people teaching kids that its not okay to speak the language they are used to speaking.

Insane to be sure. Kansas truly does not have much worth for anyone seeking education...

How about this, native english speaking students who are taking French, Spanish or German as an elective decide to practice a "foreign" langage at recess, do they get suspended too?

No, ms. watts, it is not germany, though it sure seems like you want it to be germany, say in the 1930s...

I wonder if the kid will be allowed to speak Spanish in Spanish class. Or does the Kansas school system believe in things like foreign languages?

I read what she said to the student suspended "We are not in Mexico, we are not
in Germany" well, I guess she actually thinks she is in the Germany... of 1940.

This is NOT a regular kid in a regular school. I don't even know this kid, but students at alternative schools can't be successful in the regular school. The students require more supervision and direction in order to function in school. So the rule of speaking Engligh only is perfectly reasonable. Students at alternative schools often struggle to use appropriate language and keep their conversations appropriate. For example: the conversations may quickly turn to gang talk, harassing comments, violent conversations, threats, illegal activities. Not acceptable at school or in the work environment. If the studets are speaking a language that the teacher's can't understand, the teachers are unable to provide the extra structure and support these students clearly need.

So perhaps someone should consider how this lawsuit and the parents' lack of support are preventing him from getting the structure and support he so clearly needs. His future is at risk and they clearly are more concerned about publicity and placing blame than helping their son.

advocate for kids - there are many reasons for students to be placed in an alternative school. We have no idea what's going on here... and it strikes me as irresponsible for you to just blithely start making assumptions.

Obviously, the father wanted his kid in school - and questioned why he wasn't. As for Zach's parent's "lack of support" WTF are you talking about? Seriously...

I am outraged at this. I have emailed this witch lets see if she responds.. I feel that he was not being disrespectful to anyone by speaking in spanish. he was talking to a friend.. DURING RECESS FOR GODS SAKE! I think more than anything that it is great that he is bilingual. It has taken me 5 years to become bilingual and for him it just comes natural.. what a lucky kid.. I think that principal watts is out to get him. she should loose her job!

I understand why a parent would be upset that their child was suspended from school for speaking another language and maybe that was a bit drastic. However, it is not fair to other students and school administration that only speak English and therefore are unaware of a conversation which may pertain directly to them. What if it was sexual harassment or regarding plans to go on a shooting spree at the school? Maybe they are speaking profanity or complaining about a teacher with disrespect. All of which would be grounds for suspension, if one could hear it. Something needs to be done, not just in the classroom, but also in all sectors of the public, especially business and government institutions. It is extremely rude and potentially harmful behavior that can become a safety risk to human life, even national security.
And to obtain a lawyer for legal representation against the public school system shows that they are more concerned about their Mexican rights rather than the country they want to call home. Why is it that when you go to Mexico they expect you to speak Spanish, but in the States you do not have to respect the primary language, which is English. If I moved to France, I would learn French and would speak French when in public (in fact, they just passed a law regarding this matter because of the notorious riots). I would not expect another country to cater to my individual language for my own personal needs and thereby disregard the rights of others by claiming my rights in some way supersede their own. A wonderful example is recently at my work when a co-worker from Mexico was infuriated over the requirement that you had to be a United States citizen prior to becoming a law enforcement officer.
Sincerely,
A concerned American Indian

I am debating about this on Monday in my 10th grade debate class...and this will be a great topic to debate over on the affirmative side...the aff side states that it is okay with speaking a different language in school, what's so bad about it....also this Watts lady is crazy, she needs to be less prejudice, that's my opinion...if she sees this, then she needs to get a life outside of school....!!!!!

Your in america, speak english. Period. Americans SHOULD NOT HAVE TO LEARN YOUR LANGUAGE when you come here.

More importantly...Are you here legally? so many mexicans arent... and more are comming over here every day, and Im sure MOST of them DO NOT have a green card, nor speak english...

oh, but thats ok... ...and as an american you have a duty to the spanish speaking folks to learn their language. (or so it seems)

I know, I know... Im a bigot, but then, I want to keep MY job and not give it up to someone who is here illegally, will work for next to nothing, and doesnt have the decency to learn the language of the country they are taking advantage of...