Learn English or Else

Unit 4

"Tennessee Judge Tells Immigrant Mother: Learn English or Else" by Ellen Barry was a chapter that really caught my attention because it dealt with a mother who could have possibly had her child taken away because she did not speak English. This problem cannot automatically be solved for more reasons than one. Most people would jump to the conclusion and say the Tennessee mother lives in America and therefore should learn English, is an unfair statement to make because it is easier said than done. Learning a whole new language is something that takes a lot of time an effort, which a parent of a young child does not have. To add, no where in the constitution does it say all American citizens need to know English so I do not believe there needs to be such a strong emphasis for the mother to do so. On the other hand, the child's life could be at risk and the mother can be seen as an unfit parent if she continues to fail at raising her child safely.  There is no correct way to solve this issue. The main point of this whole situation is to keep the child as safe as possible. You need to think, will the consequences of a mother who is unable to speak English and support her child in a state where English is the only means of communication outweigh the trauma caused by the child having to grow up without a mother to love, nature and cherish her? The answer to that question, weather or not the mother is fit enough for the job, is specific to her case and her family.