Not a taxpayer problem

Dear editor:

A recent letter lamented a “communication problem” in Hot Springs, between teachers and students. I suspect, by the examples given, this was a young person in the Hot Springs School District.

First, I’ll say kudos to the letter writer, Said Angeles, for taking the time to think critically, then having the courage to submit. The letter was well written. Said has a bright future.

I must, however, take exception with a few things. Said says a “vast majority of these students are struggling with balancing school life, with their social lives, and work schedules.” That’s hardly a new problem; my generation, and countless before, faces those same issues. It’s called prioritizing, and it’s something even this new generation with all their technology will have to deal with as well.

What really irked me, though, was when Said wrote “Several cannot communicate appropriately due to coming from different countries of the world,” then cited the need for bilingual assistants and translators.

As a taxpayer, why is that my problem or obligation to pay for? These young people have been granted an opportunity to be educated and live in the greatest country in the world. At the least, I would expect them to know the language of the country they have chosen to live or reside in. I certainly don’t expect, as a taxpayer, to have to subsidize the assistance or tutoring of our language.

Said Angeles notes an instance where a Latino (what difference should that make) athlete “left practice during a session with a college recruiter to go to work.” I’d like to think that would impress any college recruiter, but more importantly, I don’t know what’s expected or different here. Does Said want taxpayers such as myself to pay for the students time and resources?

Finally, Said says “students are struggling in class due to the simple fact of not being able to understand all of the teachers.” Now I admit I couldn’t understand much of the music from Sunday night’s Grammy Awards, but in all my years in school, I could understand my teachers. If you can’t speak English, that’s your problem and your responsibility, not mine as a taxpayer. Casey Alexander Mount Ida