language discrimination

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Dwarfs, Little People and the M-Word

 

The following exchange, reprinted here in its entirety, began with an e-mail to Ebert’s Movie Answer Man column.

From Daniel Woodburn to Roger Ebert


April 6, 2005

Dear Mr. Ebert,

I am an actor that you have reviewed neither favorably nor unfavorably in two different movies: one was “Death to Smoochy,” the other “Things You Can Tell Just By Looking At Her.” I have absolutely no objection to you trashing a film or lauding it. I do object to the use of the word “midgets” in your review of “Death to Smoochy.”

As a writer you are aware of the power of words. The use of the word midget is, for Little People, equated with any other hate word someone might use to describe a minority group. I simply ask you: if you were to see Little People children would you take away their humanity in the same way with the use of such a hate word? I can respect a yes answer but I cannot respect the person who answers yes.

Sincerely, Danny Woodburn

– Click through for more –

 

Source: www.rogerebert.com

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“WHAT’S THAT MATTER WITH YOU PEOPLE”: 346 Words on How to Fix Our Problems

 

So many of the problems in the United States today could so very easily be solved with a tiny bit of common sense and basic humanity. In the following list (below the image), I propose changes that should happen immediately (yes, utopian), changes that would actually be automatic if we were at all sincere about continuing our “great experiment with democracy.”

 

Source: andrewpegoda.com

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Students learning English benefit more in two-language instructional programs than English immersion, Stanford research finds

A partnership between the Stanford Graduate School of Education and San Francisco Unified School District examines the merits of four approaches to teaching English language learners.

 

Community Village‘s insight:

 

My daughter has been in dual-immersion (Spanish / English) since kindergarten. She is now in 4th grade and reading English at an 8th grade level.

 

Most bachelors degrees require a second language. It is easier to learn the second language while young. It is an injustice and a frustration to children to delay until college the learning of a second language.

See on news.stanford.edu

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Principal Fired For Trying To Keep Students From Speaking Spanish

 

“A principal who allegedly prohibited students from speaking Spanish will lose her job, the Texas press reports.

 

Administrators voted Monday night to discontinue a job contract for Amy Lacey, principal of Hempstead Middle School, who had been on paid administrative leave since December after reportedly using the intercom to tell students that speaking Spanish is forbidden on school grounds.

 

“When you start banning aspects of ethnicity or cultural identity, it sends the message that the child is not wanted,” Augstin Pinedo, director of the League of United Latin American Citizens Region 18 told the Houston Chronicle. ”

 
See on www.huffingtonpost.com