‘Traumatized’: Moms say sons were told not to speak Spanish at school

GASTONIA, N.C. — Two mothers are upset after they said their sons were scolded for speaking Spanish to each other at school.

The students attend Piedmont Charter High School off Robinwood Road in Gastonia.

Aneurys Serrano said that two weeks ago, her son was talking to Elizabeth Salcedo’s son in the hallway. The mothers said the two were speaking in Spanish about sneakers when a teacher told Serrano’s 16-year-old son not to speak Spanish in school.

“They traumatized him because he’s like, ‘I can’t speak my language,’” Aneurys Serrano said.

“You are making the kids feel like, ‘OK, being Hispanic is wrong,’” Salcedo said.

Several parents said later that the school made a more formal announcement that students should only speak foreign languages in foreign language classes.

The mothers said they are fed up with the school, a place where notices to parents are sent in both English and Spanish versions. The website has both English and Spanish options, as well.

Piedmont Charter’s principal sent Channel 9 the following statement Wednesday:

“Piedmont Community Charter School does not have a policy regarding the language spoken by students at school. However, English is spoken during direct classroom instruction, other than in foreign language classes, to provide clarity for the understanding of the subject matter.

“Piedmont values its relationships in the community among our students, staff, and families. Administrators met with students today in order to allow them the opportunity to voice their concerns. PCCS is committed to respecting the diversity of others and valuing the relationships that unite us as a school community.”

The parents said the teacher apologized separately to the student and to his class for her actions in the hall, but they said it is not the first time something like this has happened at Piedmont Charter.

“When does it become that you have freedom of speech, but you can’t speak the language?” Salcedo asked.

The mothers said teachers have called students out for speaking Spanish for years. They said now, students have joined in saying ugly things to Salcedo’s children.

“They were telling them they were going to send them ‘back to their country,’” she said.

The mothers said the incident with their sons was a tipping point for students. On Wednesday, several of them met with school administrators to say what the mothers fear. The parents and students said they are worried about a culture that makes them feel isolated for expressing their culture on campus.

Channel 9 was told administrators listened and restated school policy during Wednesday’s meeting.

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