Judge: Learn English or Lose Custody

[ethics]

"The court specially informs the mother that if she does not make the effort to learn English, she is running the risk of losing any connection — legally, morally and physically — with her daughter forever," reads a court order from the hearing, according to Jerry Gonzalez, the Nashville attorney who represents the woman.

Seems a bit harsh to me, what does learning to speak English have to <a href="http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/latimests/learnenglishjudgetellsmoms">do with being a good parent</a>?

[Sierra Mike]

Interesting. English is, of course, the spoken language of the land, and we all bitch about those who can't speak it...well, those of us who were born here, anyway. ;) But I'm uncomfortable with it being a mandate in this case, personally.

SM

[Fiona]

I can understand how a judge might feel that a parent SHOULD learn the language in certain situations... but I'm with youguys... this seems a little out there. Well- g'yuk- it IS Tennessee ;)

[MNeedham73]

A bit over the top, to say the least.

Granted, the bumper sticker I've seen that says "Welcome to America - now speak English" is definitely one of my favorites.

But, putting it in a court order? That's too much.

[ethics]

Yah, you've described my feeling as well. As someone who advocates English as the primary language here in NYC, I am a bit perplexed by the ruling. Again, as long as the mother communicates to her kid, who cares what language she does it AS LONG as the kid understands that language? English is not softer (if anything the opposite), so what's the deal?

[Stiofán]

This is asinine. Let 'em speak however they want.

[Coot]

They're not appearing before this judge because they're model parents, they're in front of him to defend against charges of neglect and abuse.

Most recently, it was an 18-year-old woman from Oaxaca, Mexico, who had been reported to the Department of Children's Services for failing to immunize her toddler and show up for appointments. At a hearing last month to monitor the mother's custody of the child, Wilson County Judge Barry Tatum instructed the woman to learn English and to use birth control, the Lebanon Democrat newspaper reported.

Last October, Tatum gave a similar order to a Mexican woman who had been cited for neglect of her 11-year-old daughter, said a lawyer who is representing the woman in her appeal. Setting a court date six months away, the judge told the woman she should be able to speak English at a fourth-grade level by that meeting. If she failed, he warned, he would begin the process of termination of parental rights.

Just maybe in Lebannon Tennessee, the lack of English proficiency on the part of the mother does contribute to the neglect of the child, in terms of knowing what is available and required for the welfare of the child.

Arguably, printing government documents in various sundry languages is a pretty bad idea that just enables these folks to live in insulated enclaves that oftentimes devalue things like...oh, education.

[Fiona]

They're not appearing before this judge because they're model parents, they're in front of him to defend against charges of neglect and abuse.



Just maybe in Lebannon Tennessee, the lack of English proficiency on the part of the mother does contribute to the neglect of the child, in terms of knowing what is available and required for the welfare of the child.I was considering this when I said I could understand why a judge may feel it's warranted... we don't know the particulars of the case. However, learning english isn't the problem I'm sure as much as intellect, knowlege, communication (in any language)

You are probably right that it is something she's missing because she doesn't speak the language... and the bilingual signs aren't a solution I should support. But it's more than that. It's not just a language, it's a culture. A woman who doesn't give her child immunizations wouldn't be considered neglect in her country maybe? SOme of us don't immunize here, by choice. So I'm just sayin... it COULD be warranted. I don't like the precedent being set.

[cmhbob]

I like this guy:

"the general sentiment is, if people are going to be in this country, we all have a moral obligation to learn to speak the language," said Bob Bright, 61, who runs an insurance agency in Lebanon.

"I know if I was in Mexico I would make an effort to learn Hispanic." :rolleyes:

I think that attitude explains a lot.

I too am very uncomfortable with the idea that this is an enforceable court order. 6 months to get to a 4th-grade level? Hmm.

[Arc]

The article linked was written by LA Times Staff Writer Ellen Barry.

Based upon the quality of the article apparently most anyone can be a writer for the Times. :shake:

[Coot]

The article linked was written by LA Times Staff Writer Ellen Barry.

Based upon the quality of the article apparently most anyone can be a writer for the Times. :shake:

The LA Times staff writers are actually their steno pool. They call up people, write down what they say and print it. :)

[cdw]

to use birth control

And what does that have to do with anything? Unfortunately this judge seems to be behaving more like a social worker than a judge. While his 'advice' may be a step in the right direction for some of these people, it's not his place to be mandating his advice as law. IMO

[MorWired]

Yah, you've described my feeling as well. As someone who advocates English as the primary language here in NYC, I am a bit perplexed by the ruling. Again, as long as the mother communicates to her kid, who cares what language she does it AS LONG as the kid understands that language? English is not softer (if anything the opposite), so what's the deal?What if the parents were deaf and "only" spoke ASL? would the judge be demanding they learn to vocalize?

If the child understands the language in which they're being spoken to, that's all that matters. Language has nothing to do with neglect -- a "neglectful" parent is such because they don't care, not because they don't have resources. A parent that cares, regardless of language spoken, will do what's necessary to care for their children. If they're not aware of services available, once told, they will avail themselves.

Sounds like the judge had better learn some better English before moving on to learning Hispanic :doh:, and how many months do we believe it would take the judge to attain a fourth-grade proficiency in Hispanic, anyway?