Last Wednesday, Denver school board member Arturo Jiménez addressed Spanish-speakers in the audience in the moments before voting against a proposal to put a campus of West Denver Prep charter middle school at the old Emerson School location. I find his remarks fascinating, for reasons I will explain tomorrow in my newsletter. Because his remarks in Spanish differ in some respects from the translation he provided to English, I thought it would be worthwhile to post the original Spanish comments, with subtitles.
Popularity: 4% [?]
I’ll look forward to reading your comments about this address, which I personally found to be a moving and dignified, if somewhat discouraged, statement.
I have to say I am horrified by the remarks made by Arthuro Jimenez at the board meeting about Valdez and WDP. My neighborhood school is Valdez and if I would have ever gotten a call back from the principal, I might have considered having my son attend the school. It is a good thing that call back never came, since last year the 3rd grade class, which is my son’s grade level, have only 9% proficiency in reading (3 students/out of 35) and 6% in writing (2 students/out of 35), and 21% in math (9 students/out of 40). So to say that he is concerned about the fact that there is not a dual language middle school which members of his “neighborhood family” can learn how to speak, write, and read, is scary. It is clear, these kids are not learning how to read or write in any language! Won’t it be better if his “neighborhood family” were at least proficient in one language?
Since I personally know these kids, most are smart and driven to learn, when they are younger. I cannot tell you how many I have watched go to middle school and high school, to see them change and head in the wrong path. If WDP can give inspiration to my “neighborhood family” kids to achieve and strive for a better opportunity in life, then those opportunities should be available. I know these parents and they wish the same for their children, not a future of dropping out, low paying jobs, and/or prison.