1) Absolutely.
2) Here's the thing... you can't make people do anything. I think foreigners living here should speak English because it is the official language. We should make it a requirement to obtain citizenship but not a green card, etc. Instead, we make it awkward for those that aren't citizens just as any other country with an official language. No more tests or signs in a different language. Make life very hard on them until they adapt to our way of life. They can speak their own language behind doors or to whomever speaks their native tongue.

 

# 1. Yes, I'd love it if kids spoke English in the classroom. No -- kids required to be fluent BEFORE they enter school? How is that even possible?

# 2. English is NOT the official language of the Unites States. Check your facts.

http://www.google.com/search?client=...UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

 

This is America, which to me is defined as freedom. You don't have to do anything you don't want to so long as you don't infringe upon the freedoms of others and pay taxes.

That said, I believe that there are many other more important issues. Not that this one isn't important because I know that it is very important to some. However, in order for American schools to facilitate learning for non-English speakers would cost a lot of money and I don't know how much y'all have been around the country, but schools are struggling as it is on the amount that the gov't allocates to them. Many schools are using out-dated books, are in substandard structures, can't afford to pay their teachers an appropriate salary.....

Education is very important to me and I believe that every child should have the right to a first-rate education, however, when basic education is so low on our government's priority list as it is, I'd rather improve the current state before we begin adding in multi-lingual courses.

 

Hell i think we should be teaching all the kids in public school multiple languages.. who cares what their native tongue is.

The world is shrinking, and to remain truly competitive in the coming decades we will have to be able to field a work force that is multilingual, up at odd hours, and educated in various areas (engineering comes to mind).


just my two cents, it shouldnt be about making people comfratable, it should be about exposing everyone to new ideas, new concepts, and most of all insuring that our nation doesnt fall behind the rest of the world.

 

I think everyone with a HS diploma from anywhere in the US had better speak English...of course, I think everyone that gets a HS diploma should know calc, trig, bio, chem, and physics also. So I definatly think school should be taught in English, with some after and before school help for those learning the language as a second one.


I don't think there should be any requirements from the government on its citizens in terms of language though. Capitalistic democracy is supposed to take care of that...if people can survive here and make money without English, then fine. But if everyone that gets a HS diploma speaks English from a certain point forward, then in a few years people who don't speak any English will not be able to make money and survive.