Judge Orders Man to Speak English @Home

chequita guevara · October 15, 2003, 09:54

Can you say blatent violation of 1st Amendment? I knew you could.

Man ordered to speak English to daughter

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By Jean Ortiz

Oct. 14, 2003 | PAPILLION, Neb. (AP) -- A Hispanic man who spoke to his 5-year-old daughter in Spanish has been ordered to use primarily English around the girl as a condition of his visitation rights.

Sarpy County Judge Ronald E. Reagan said the child does not understand Spanish because she only met her father, Eloy Amador, seven months ago.

Amador, who was released from jail after serving a five-year sentence for drug possession, told the judge that he spoke Spanish to the girl to share his culture, not to force a language on her.

``I don't come to her speaking in Spanish, but there are times where I try to teach her what hair is in Spanish, what hand is, stuff like that,'' Amador said during a Sept. 15 hearing on visitation.

The judge did not oppose such instruction, but said the rest of the communication should be in English for the sake of the girl's education.

``The principal form of communication during the periods of visitation is going to be English,'' Reagan said. ``That does not mean that you can't instruct and teach her the Hispanic language.''

The ruling was a victory for the girl's mother, Michaela Krayneski, who requested that Amador speak English as a condition of visitation.

Calls to Krayneski's lawyer were not returned Tuesday.

Amador's attorney, John Allen Sellers, said he was surprised that the judge ``would consider a restraint such as this based on racial or cultural differences of the parents.''

MrFun · October 15, 2003, 09:57

This is stupid . . . . .

SlowwHand · October 15, 2003, 09:59

Why? The mother's wishes count for nothing?

Also,
To become a U.S. citizen, a prime requirement is to be able to communicate fully in English.

MrFun · October 15, 2003, 10:04

Quote:

Originally posted by SlowwHand
Why? The mother's wishes count for nothing?

Also,
To become a U.S. citizen, a prime requirement is to be able to communicate fully in English.

Then with that Texas slang of yours, how in the world could you possibly be a US citizen??

Snotty · October 15, 2003, 10:05

So let me get this straight. The guy teachs his daughter a few words in spanish. The judge rules he can teach his daughter a few words in spanish. And this was a victory for the mother?

SlowwHand · October 15, 2003, 10:07

You know MrFun, I once worked as a Reading One-On-One teacher with at-risk children, and your point is real.

My vowels, well, I'll just say it was interesting.

FrustratedPoet · October 15, 2003, 10:08

What a non-story this is.

"Man teaches his daughter some Spanish vocabulary. Judge lets him do it"

Quote:

``The principal form of communication during the periods of visitation is going to be English,'' Reagan said. ``That does not mean that you can't instruct and teach her the Hispanic language.''

And the problem with this is.......?

chequita guevara · October 15, 2003, 10:10

Quote:

Originally posted by SlowwHand
Why? The mother's wishes count for nothing?

Also,
To become a U.S. citizen, a prime requirement is to be able to communicate fully in English.

The prime requirement of being a U.S. citizen is being born in the United States, which, presumably, the daughter has done.

And no, in this specific case, I don't think the mother's wishes count for anything. If she wants her daughter to be able to speak English, then she should teach her daughter to speak English. If the father wants his daughter to be able to speak Spanish, he needs to be able to speak Spanish with her, instead of teaching her a few words hear and there.

I would hope this man appeals.

Harry Seldon · October 15, 2003, 10:10

Sounds like she was hoping to get rights restricted. I'd chalk it up as a loss.

MrFun · October 15, 2003, 10:10

Quote:

Originally posted by SlowwHand
You know MrFun, I once worked as a Reading One-On-One teacher with at-risk children, and your point is real.

My vowels, well, I'll just say it was interesting.

Glad to have made a legitimate point this time around -- much to my surprise.

chequita guevara · October 15, 2003, 10:12

Quote:

Originally posted by FrustratedPoet
And the problem with this is.......?

It's a violation of the 1st Amendment of the Constitution of the United States by forbiding a man to speak to his daughter in his native language. A judge has no right to dictate what language a man may or may not speak in his own home.

FrustratedPoet · October 15, 2003, 10:13

I think it's quite funny that the judge's name is Ronald Reagan.

MrFun · October 15, 2003, 10:14

Ronald Reagan, idiot, lunatic, moron -- who cares what his name is??

FrustratedPoet · October 15, 2003, 10:14

Quote:

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
It's a violation of the 1st Amendment of the Constitution of the United States by forbiding a man to speak to his daughter in his native language.

Nobody has forbid him to do that.

SlowwHand · October 15, 2003, 10:15

Che, if you would dismount from your high-horse you'll recognize I meant "Naturalized Citizen".
The mother has custody. End of discussion.

FrustratedPoet · October 15, 2003, 10:16

Quote:

Originally posted by MrFun
Ronald Reagan, idiot, lunatic, moron -- who cares what his name is??

I care deeply and passionately. To suggest that my primary mode of interest in this story must not be the guy's funny name is a gross violation of my human rights!

MrFun · October 15, 2003, 10:17

Quote:

Originally posted by FrustratedPoet

I care deeply and passionately. To suggest that my primary mode of interest in this story must not be the guy's funny name is a gross violation of my human rights!

I can also violate your rights by getting a court order for you to drink Pepsi instead of Coke.

chequita guevara · October 15, 2003, 10:19

Quote:

Originally posted by FrustratedPoet
Nobody has forbid him to do that.

Yes he has. Read the article again. Being allowed to instruct her in Spanish and being able to speak Spanish at home are two different things.

Children learn languages very easily when they are five or younger, especially when they are emmersed in the language. This is a well known phenominon. By forbidding the man to speak Spanish to her, he is limiting her ability to learn the language and interfering with this man's right to teach his daughter Spanish effectively.

SlowwHand · October 15, 2003, 10:20

"Amador, who was released from jail after serving a five-year sentence for drug possession, "

This guy's waltzing in and announcing what HE wants?
Who cares? Besides some jackasses?

Donegeal · October 15, 2003, 10:22

Quote:

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
A judge has no right to dictate what language a man may or may not speak in his own home.

Did I miss something? Where did it state that the visits were taking place in the man's home? Now, on a similar subject, if the visits were taking place at her house, does she have the right to forbid the speaking of spanish in her own home?

chequita guevara · October 15, 2003, 10:26

Quote:

Originally posted by SlowwHand
This guy's waltzing in and announcing what HE wants?

As I recall, weren't you the guy talking about how you can refuse to allow a police officer to search your car a few years back. A drug possession charge is BS and you know it. Five years? What, he got caught with a joint? Yeah, that really makes him unfit to be a parent.

Donegeal · October 15, 2003, 10:37

Quote:

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
``I don't come to her speaking in Spanish...

Yep... sounds to me that the visits are taking place either at the mothers house or a neutral location.

SlowwHand · October 15, 2003, 10:51

Drugs does not equal pot.

chequita guevara · October 15, 2003, 10:53

A five year sentence, Sloww? Come on, what else could it have been? Anything harder would have landed him in prison a lot longer.

alva · October 15, 2003, 10:56

Quote:

I think it's quite funny that the judge's name is Ronald Reagan.

I think it's quite scary to think that there is another one

, never thought the world would be big enough to able to handle more then one.

DinoDoc · October 15, 2003, 10:57

Quote:

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
A drug possession charge is BS and you know it.

How so? Providing the mother is clean, it seems like a valid reason for her to limit the child's access to her father.

Japher · October 15, 2003, 11:36

Judge Ronald E. Reagan

why do I like everyone named Ronald Reagan?

MrFun · October 15, 2003, 11:37

Quote:

Originally posted by Japher
Judge Ronald E. Reagan

why do I like everyone named Ronald Reagan?

Cause you're an an ignorant SOB who doesn't know any better?

Japher · October 15, 2003, 11:41

Quote:

Cause you're an an ignorant SOB who doesn't know any better?

Uh, Sava, I mean, MrFun, I may be an SOB but I'm not ignorant... whatever that means

Oerdin · October 15, 2003, 11:43

I'm interested in learning what he's basing his ruling upon. Is he claiming the child's welfare will be harmed if she learns Spanish as well as English? As the judge points out English is the national Lingua franca so just by virtue of living in Nebraska I think it is safe to say she'll spend the majority of her time speaking English.