Numbers. They can be big. They can be scary. Often times people can be hurt by them because other people like to throw them around. Like 47, the number of Language spoken by the LPS students or 76, the actual number of different dialects. We can argue about what number is actually more accurate but whatever one we come up with we can guarantee it will be overwhelming.
Overwhelming, because there is no practical way that LPS can place multi-lingual in every class and to satisfy my more conservative readers, THIS IS AMERICA, ENGLISH SPOKEN HERE.
BUT....
This is also America, melting pot. "Give us your tired, your hungry..."or whatever the exact quote is inscribed at the base of Lady Liberty. We have a reputation for openness and respect for human dignity that many a brave soldier has fought and died for.
That is why what MARIA CARRASCO said with her broken English at Monday night's LSC debate came through loud and clear. She didn't stumble through this eternal truth. BODY LANGUAGE IS A UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE AND EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS IT.
I am lucky to have spent last year filling in as a VOLUNTEER LIBRARIAN at the FORD SCHOOL where I got to learn that language being taught every day by all the teachers. I witnessed many different students, new arrivals from some distant spot on the globe, made welcome and to feel invited to learn Invited to one day make this great country even greater.
How? MARIA identified the universal translator.
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