Dear Editor:
Thank you so much for sharing information about Helms Elementary. We have been at Helms since 2009, and could not be more enthusiastic about the immersive dual-language program, or more excited about Mr. Baker and his extraordinary staff. The new ancillary programming connects abstract information to real-word situations, and the language skills acquired by these students allows them to move through that real world with broader perspectives and deeper understanding of people, places, and context. Both my Helms students had no problems guiding us through interior Mexico last summer, and just last week my second grader told me about issues currently being discussed between the presidents of Chile and Bolivia. It’s thrilling! Thanks for letting readers of The Leader know what a gem we have in Helms, and how truly amazing an immersive dual-language environment is.
Elena Coates
Dear Editor:
We are attending Helms for the second year. My daughter is in first grade. No one in our household speaks any Spanish, but we wanted our daughter to get the opportunity to learn another language at an early age. While a big part of the students have some kind of connection to a Spanish speaking country, it is not the case for all families. There are families attending Helms with no Hispanic heritage, and we benefit as well. We like the global thinking this school provide our daughter with. She has friends from all over the world and she has become very aware of the benefit of knowing different languages.
Anna
Dear Editor:
I wanted to share my positive review of our first couple of months at Helms Elementary School and their Spanish immersion program.
We chose this school principally for the Spanish and its proximity to our home, making it walkable/bikeable which are both very important to us. There is an engaged PTA that managed to pull off a silent auction already and raise money for the schools new World Culture ancillary program. What a bonus! It’s amazing to see our child learning about other cultures and countries that speak Spanish. This program is supported by a dedicated Principal, who can be seen daily greeting kids at the carpool drop off lane, as well as doing regular cafeteria duty.
Any lingering doubts that I had about the school were completely blown out of the water by the Hispanic heritage celebration at Helms earlier this month. It was AMAZING. There was so much Hispanic pride on display, an enormous amount of learning about different countries and cultures was demonstrated and all presented in a fluent mix of Spanish and English. (As an aside, my daughter is speaking in full paragraphs and conversations to us already after just 9 weeks). Hispanic culture night was beautiful and authentic. I was surrounded by such a diverse mix of ethnicities and families all dedicated to their kids and encouraging this celebration of Hispanic culture! I felt proud to be raising a child who is half Hispanic and who has the chance to go to a school that has a dedicated program to learning about and honoring that. It was beautiful.
Cynthia
Patriotism out, global citizen in
Dear Editor:
Houston ISD continues to push foreign languages in our public schools. They see themselves as the only ones with a view into the crystal ball that can see what the “global economy” needs for the future generations. Business interests and private billionaire cabals gather and chart the course with no input or approval from Congress, parents or elected officials at the State Board of Education. Common Core is mandated upon acceptance of money from such as Race to the Top grants. This includes very intimate data being collected about your child gathered by the district and shared to third party vendors. The “Connected Learning” Program links students online with Wahhabi states in the Middle East. 21st Century Learning puts students onto iPads and electronic devices, a paperless, text-book free world where content is hidden away from the parents. Bill Gates makes millions in sales to school districts. Most all of these programs are UNESCO-aligned, a wing of the United Nations.
Houston ISD’s Global Education program buzzshield the fact that SAT scores and higher level content mastery is falling. Migration Policy Institute shows a disturbing lack of English language acquisition even in second and third generation immigrant student populations. The language enthusiasm shields the district from the spotlight of other major problems like frittering away huge bond monies approved by taxpayers, an alignment with terror state Qatar for Arabic language taught to 4-6 year olds in exchange for thousands of dollars and high drop-out rates, low test scores and drugs running freely in high schools.
The politicization of our local school board to forward a left-wing agenda has found a clever way to market “languages” as they seek to destroy loyalty to the West and America. They have decided patriotism is out global citizen is in. Be careful parents!
President of Turkey’s Erdogan once said: “Islam is Islam. There are no modifiers. Democracy is the train we ride to our ultimate objective.” In the case of Houston ISD, languages are the train they ride to receive federal grants and Qatar cash to create indoctrinated global citizens.
Elizabeth Theiss
Proposition 1 extends existing federal protection from discrimination
Dear Editor:
Proposition 1 basically extends existing federal protection from discrimination to include members of the LGBT community. As a society we have already agreed and have laws in place to protect people from discrimination based on sex, race, color etc…. Why is it wrong to extend these protections to a marginalized and highly discriminated population? (For the record, I am a straight white woman, with kids, and I totally support Proposition 1).
“The ordinance, which is on the ballot as Proposition 1, would ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity—criteria not covered by federal anti-discrimination laws—especially “in city employment, city services, city contracting practices, housing, public accommodations, and private employment.” The ordinance would also make prohibitions against discrimination based on sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, familial status, marital status, military status, religion, disability, genetic information and pregnancy explicit in the city’s code. Discrimination based on these characteristics is prohibited by federal law.”
Cynthia
Reader in opposition to Proposition 1
Dear Editor:
To all in favor of Prop 1, what’s wrong with all you folks? Can’t you see right through Anise Parker’s agenda? She doesn’t and never has given a flip about equality of any order. If she did she would’ve taken care of city business 6+ years ago. Instead she squandered precious time promoting her/his private agenda. That of being LGBT. Why weren’t Houston’s streets fixed midway through her three terms instead of waiting till she’s about gone and then tearing up ALL the streets at the same time?
There is no discrimination in this city against LGBTs. They can do whatever they want whenever they want wherever they want as long as they don’t violate the majority of the citizens’ rights. I’ve never witnessed anybody questioning anybody about sexual orientation and I’ve been around for a long time. If anybody feels they are of any sex have them dress as what they really are and use the stalls in the appropriate restroom. There’s your privacy.
I’m Hispanic and have never been turned down for anything because of that. If I’m qualified I am given the opportunity. If I’m not qualified I don’t get it. That’s the bottom line unless you live in a communist or radical Muslim country.
Bottom line is we don’t need to complicate matters with laws such as Prop 1. I hope you folks get it and vote against it. Why should 100% of us be forced to comply with the wishes of an extremely small minority? Our federal government has been trying to force us into that corner for seven years. Let’s not let our city do it!
M.C.