Quoted: Of the 2,550 students at Larkin High last year, 38.4 percent were Hispanic and nearly a quarter were new to English.

"new to English" is that the schools way of saying that they are ILLEGALS?

LInk to something besides World Daily

Quoted: LInk to something besides World Daily

Larkin cultural event still irks some
Mexican-themed assembly: Officials take new look at policies on foreign-themed activities
By Liza Roche
STAFF WRITER
ELGIN — A Larkin High School parent says he wants to see more sensitivity and broad-based policies concerning cultural assemblies after a school assembly last month observing Mexico's independence day.

Principal Richard Webb tried to stem rumors a few weeks back when stories flew that school officials required students to say Mexico's pledge of allegiance during an assembly about the United States' neighbor to the south.

But while no pledge was recited at the assembly, some parents still are angry that students were asked to participate in that country's national anthem.

Parent Robert Bedard said his son, a senior who already has signed up with the U.S. military, felt uncomfortable with the assembly, which the school required him to attend.  

Bedard said that when his son expressed his opposition to singing Mexico's national anthem at the assembly, he was called a "punk" by a school employee.

"I doubt that the other cultural factions will ever receive their own mandatory assembly at LHS," said Bedard, who added that he thinks clear policies should be made to decide how the school deals with foreign-culture events.

Webb said the assembly this fall is making school officials take a step back and think about such activities.

"We're taking a look at how we do things ... what we're doing and what we're not doing," he said.

The incident also comes after a controversy last school year when a student ultimately was expelled for writing an essay that called for violence against Hispanic students who disrespect the American flag.

The string of culturally charged incidents is being taken seriously by school officials, Webb said. He said he believes they may be a result of a growing pain of sorts at the school.

Larkin, one of five high schools in U46, once had a strong majority of white students. Now, white students make up less than half the overall population of the school, with Hispanic students accounting for more than 38 percent of the total.

Last month's assembly is just one example of special events held by LHS each year, according to Webb.

For example, he said, each February, an assembly is held in connection with Black History Month.

And as part of the school's character-building "First Class" program, LHS students listened to an ex-convict at the start of the school year.

The Mexican assembly, Webb noted, was primarily an educational tool, not a celebratory one.

"Bilingual students were doing it, so it gave them an opportunity to do a presentation — something they don't normally do," he said.

10/5/05

The Mexican assembly, Webb noted, was primarily an educational tool, not a celebratory one. "Bilingual students were doing it, so it gave them an opportunity to do a presentation — something they don't normally do," he said.

How about a PowerPoint slideshow on how to get across the Rio Grande and link up with your coyote?

Funny how history repeats itself, isn't it.


In 1824 what is today California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and parts of Oklahoma were all Mexican Territories. Apparently the Mexican government's subterfuge plan to take them back is working quite well.