Parents organize for Spanish-English translators in schools

Twenty parents-members of TOC-rallied outside the Board of Education with their children and community supporters, chanting "Tear down the wall, Translate for all!" and "Dr. Mayo don't wait, Educate, Translate!"

In order to demonstrate that parents were being left out, TOC entered the Board of Education public meeting with tape over their mouths.

Alberto Nieves, a TOC parent who was at the meeting with Dr. Mayo, testified to the Board of Education about his experience attending the parent orientation at his daughter's school. "I was disappointed," said Nieves. "Dr. Mayo had promised a translator, but there was none. The principal passed out a manual with basic information about school policies. It was in English only." At Bishop Woods school 17% of the students come from Spanish-speaking households.

Lack of translators should concern all parents, according to Claudia Bosch, a parent leader of TOC. "Twenty-six percent of New Haven students come from Spanish-speaking households," Bosch said. "Thousands of children are missing out on educational opportunities, because their parents are not in communication with the school. How can New Haven become the best urban district in the nation if a quarter of the parents are being excluded by not providing necessary translation?"