When my daughter was in elementary school in the public school system of NYC, I spent alot of time trying to create equal access to information for Spanish speaking immigrant families. Despite NYC being an “immigrant” city, there is no standardized system of making sure that all parents, regardless of their home language get information that they can understand in order to support their child’s education and participate in the school community. Parent/teacher conferences were interpreted by children and school notices and meetings went home in English only. It was a struggle. Imagine what it is like in communities already less immigrant friendly. A recent incident in North Carolina doesn’t require our imaginations.

Ana Ligia Mateo, a former secretary at a Devonshire Elementary in North Carolina, was hired as a bilingual secretary — which makes sense, since nearly half of the school’s student population is Hispanic, and many come from homes where English is not their first language. But in 2008, a new principal instituted a policy barring faculty or staff from speaking Spanish to parents. The policy seems to be motivated solely by anti-immigrant sentiment and racism. Yet Mateo was a constant rule-breaker. When distraught or concerned parents with a language barrier came to the school, she couldn’t always bring herself to refuse to answer questions or translate so that they could understand. So she was fired.

Now here’s where it get’s confusing. Allegedly the incident that led to the firing involves an accusation of sexual assault.

Instead, the principal insisted Mateo stand idly by, saying that the seven-year-old who had potentially been sexually violated could try to translate for his mother. In the end, the crying parent had to leave unsatisfied, because she couldn’t understand the school officials — reports in the media don’t say if anything was ever done for the child victim by the school that was so opposed to establishing communication with his concerned mother.

After a scan of local news coverage the focus seems to be on the fired secretary and no doubt the firing is an outrage, discriminatory and probably illegal.

Mateo, a U.S. citizen of Hispanic/Nicaraguan origin, also alleges in her lawsuit that she was screamed at for trying to translate for a hysterical parent, and falsely accused by the assistant principal of empathizing with the parents because she “crossed the border just like them.” The assistant principal also told Mateo that she would lose her job if she complained, and further said that she knew she had children, and couldn’t afford to be out of work. Attempting to take advantage of her by threatening the welfare of her family..

There is a petition asking that the local school district drop it’s English Only rule.

Yesterday Superintendent Peter Gorman said that the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools encourages bilingual employees to translate for parents who don’t speak English.

My question is if Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools takes care of the physical safety of the children in it’s schools and if it takes accusations of sexual assaults against Latino children seriously?

Via / Change.org, The Charlotte Observer