Actually our shcool newsletter and everything esle for parents does get translated to spanish by outside agency...(taxpayer monies used for that???)

SPanish speakers are the majority, but the school is run and staffed by nearly all anglophones.. I know both languages and get a real kick (sad kick) out of seeing what the admin feels the hispanics dont 'need' to know, the translated newsletter is about half as long as the English version, i guess they save $$ by just translating what they consider 'most important'.

It is amazing that they want to be seen as trying to reach out to the non E speakers in this manner, but then dont even go the whole way and give the SAME information as the E speakers get!!! Its quiet discrimination.

And of course, having the translated newsletter come out a month later, makes most of the announcements irrelevant anyway. So yes, the only solution is for non E speakers to learn the language of the country theyre living in, its for THEIR own good and benefit. Cant konw yuor rights as a citizen if yuo can read it in E.

I know, I started shcool not knowing one word of E and learned by immersion. There was no translating or 'helping' non native E speackers, back then.

I don't know about having bilingual meetings, but anything our PTO sends home has English on front and spanish on back. We did this a few times last year and plan on doing it all year this year (we have a bilingual member). It seemed to make a difference last year. We don't have a huge spanish population, but enough that we felt we should reach out and include them. Lots of the parents would come to the school all the time and just sit and watch. They didn't seem to know what to do to help.

I think thats because Congress is trying to get legislation on English as our National language (2 get rid of the must be bilingual nonsense here in So Cal. to the a job)

We're the only country that doesnt require its citizens/ and others to learn its national language(s)

I'm all for my kids (and others) learning other languages - but if you live in the US learn English, please while teaching others yours, would solve a heck of a lot of misunderstandings and not waste peoples time

Ramune, maybe a bilingual volunteer at your school would offer to do the translating pro bono for your newsletter/other parent infos.

Shawn, I speak MOntreal, Cajun, Parisian French, PRovencal French, Southern English, and regular Engligh and also Spanish, but on the ed.gov site you referenced the other day I was SHOCKED that Spanish wasnt on it.....tehy suggest our kids learn one of the 'strategic langauges' arabic korean russian chinese i think.

I thought Spanish was the thing to learn.
Oh well, que sais je. I think I will have another Beignet and a Chicory Coffee and wash it down w a coldbeer.

This may sound crass but we try to print all PTA/PTO in English to better help our stakeholders (children or English speaking read to non English speaking) 2 learn English, the school District however spends billions of $$$$ and prints everything in Spanish and English. The cost of our PTA printing in more than one language is cost/ volunteer prohibitive.

Babelfish and Altavista have webpage translators (4 free, I believe)

I'd search zDnet to see if there are some doc translators (freeware) the translators appz for sale are expensive.

Check with your school districts ESL representative 2 see if there are any programs/ resources available 2 your PTA/PTO/school.
and make sure 2 add ethnicity/ would you need/ like 2 help with translation of school/PTA/PTO materials (2 recruit help).

Some state Dept of Edu and PTA.org have many brochures/ materials already written in at least Spanish/ English (some have many more languages)that you might be able to tailor 2 your needs- depends on demographics.

Hope this helps, we just havent had the manpower or Bilingual families step up- so this program is non existant in our area (I speak English, Southern, Cajun and French so it hasnt been much help in S California)

I am researching issues about starting a new PTO in our large (900) elementary school that is about two thirds bilinngual. Most are Spanish speaking families but we do have a number of immigrant families from other countries. I have found very little about what is involved in setting up a new PTO and would appreciate any leads, links or input that you could provide. Also, if anyone has any suggestions or "best practices" about how to effectively deal with the bilingual issue and make PTO meetings successful.

Thank you!