Waunakee Parents Object to Spanish History Lessons

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Waunakee Parents Object to Spanish History Lessons Some Waunakee parents are objecting to the school district teaching students about Wisconsin history in Spanish.

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Posted Monday, February 9, 2009 --- 10:05 a.m.

WAUNAKEE, Wis. (AP) -- Some Waunakee parents are objecting to the school district teaching students about Wisconsin history in Spanish.

The Waunakee School District teaches students in first through fourth grades Spanish by having them use the language in social studies lessons for 30 minutes three days a week.

Parent Keith Wilke says he and others believe their children are being "force-fed Spanish."

Wilke says a large part of the social studies instruction is in Spanish and the children don't understand it. His daughter is in fourth grade, where Wisconsin history is covered.

Superintendent Randy Guttenberg says he understands parents' concerns about teaching complex subjects in Spanish and the classes are being monitored.

School district leaders will meet with parents Thursday night to discuss the issue.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Carolyn Location: Stoughton on Feb 10, 2009 at 05:13 PM

What do you call a person who speaks 2 languages? Bilingual. What do you call a person who speaks 3 languages? Trilingual. What do you call a person who speaks 1 language? An American! Several European countries require students to study several languages in the early grades. So many of you would agree that our children's test scores do not compare favorably to the rest of the world. This is yet another area where we lag behind. We must teach our children another language if the United States plans to continue to be a world leader. Additionally, the parents of Waunakee chose to start a Spanish language program. This was not forced on their children, they chose it them. The social studies curriculum in the earlier grades works well in another language (and yes, you can teach 2 subjects at once - it's called integrating). However, I agree that the curriculum in 4th grade does not lend itself to natural integration. We need to teach our students other languages.
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Posted by: A on Feb 10, 2009 at 12:18 PM

Actually the US doesn't technically have an official language, HOWEVER, to be successful in most careers and in school it is a critical to speak English. You don't like when someone can't speak proper English (which needs to be capitalized, Anonymous)to you in store? So, they just shouldn't get a job to learn and improve? How will they get better at English? Literacy is a problem with native English speakers who haven't even bothered to learn a second language. Let's focus on the issue- when bilingual instruction can be beneficial versus more of an impediment for learning the content. Many of you are also the same people who don't like how much money our districts spend, but to ensure that all students are learning "proper" English, it takes money- and the native Mexicans were the ones to first defeat the Spanish in Mexico to rid themselves of imperialism....not us.
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Posted by: Anonymous Location: Madison on Feb 10, 2009 at 11:49 AM

To Anonymous at 9:18: My question was about the homework being sent home for the English speaking students...is it in Spanish or English? Do the teachers send home two different forms of homework...one in each language? Obviously I know that Spanish speaking children have Spanish speaking parents at home. What I am asking is this: if the class is taught in Spanish, then is the homework that goes home with the child also in Spanish? I had three years of Spanish in high school, but if my English speaking child brought home homework that was in Spanish, I would have a difficult time helping him/her because I don't recall a lot of the Spanish I learned. That's all I was asking. I guess I am still confused about the "layout" of the class. Is it being taught in a "dual language?" The article says a "large part" is taught in Spanish, but that is vague. Just asking for some clarification....
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