The nice principal approached me on the playground, hesitantly.
Nice Principal: Um...well, do you speak Spanish?
Me: Well, let's see, yes, a bit, I can communicate, get around in Mexico certainly. We try to speak with the girls, I think language is so important, a second language, so very important.
As explanation, our school does not currently offer foreign language instruction, one of the negatives. At our initial meeting, I stressed how important this was to us and how interested I would be in helping to bring that to the school. Perhaps he was recruiting me, now continuing...
Nice Principal: So let's see then,you speak some Spanish...
Me: Certainly, some Spanish. I studied in both high school and college, and my family has been going to Mexico for years. My mother played Spanish tapes for me, and music, plenty of music. We took the girls a few years ago, we all did just fine, in fact the girls are just close to passing their parents (awkward and uncomfortable smile brought on by rambling).
Nice Principal: So you would not say that you are a native speaker?
Me, my fair skinned, blue eyed self: Oh no, not native, but would love to be! (more awkward smiling, a thumbs up gesture here would have been appropriately goofy).
Nice Principal: Well the ESL teacher caught something, you noted that the girls speak Spanish in your paperwork, she asked me if that was correct, it was the name really, that was the catch.
Me: Right, the name (I have no idea what he is talking about).
Nice Principal: So now they have to be tested, by the ESL teacher, their English skills, I'm sure they will do fine.
Originally I registered the girls at a dual language school and the Spanish speaking office assistant suggested I note on their registration that they speak some Spanish. When we transferred to the new school the paperwork came with us and now my children, with the Irish surname, must have their English skills assessed by CPS.
Mary decided to greet the Principal this morning with an hola! Jack's mother suggested that they fall into their finely tuned Mary Poppins voices while being tested. Their first school test, English, perfect.
NorthSideFour: You're never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child. Dr. Suess
2 comments:
So, your girls were assessed by CPS simply because you noted some working knowledge of Spanish?
The death of sanity has officially arrived.
If you need some medical Spanish, I may be of some help:
I learned, "No impuje!" while doing my OB rotation in med school.
I believe it translates to, "Don't push."
That could also come in handy on the playground or McDonalds.
Remember this moment as you pull your hair out dealing with the CPS for the next 13 years.
(prices are still attractive for that suburban winter cottage)
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