The paradox of Hispanic Heritage Month: Celebrating heritage means honoring students’ languages

ELSF's Director of Texas Initiative Grace Delgado is featured on an eschoolnews.com. Read the full article.

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"Every year, Hispanic Heritage Month offers the United States a chance to honor the profound and varied contributions of Latino communities. We celebrate scientists like Ellen Ochoa, the first Latina woman in space, and activists like Dolores Huerta, who fought tirelessly for workers’ rights. We use this month to recognize the cultural richness that Spanish-speaking families bring to our communities, including everything from vibrant festivals to innovative businesses that strengthen our local economies.

But there’s a paradox at play.

While we spotlight Hispanic heritage in public spaces, many classrooms across the country require Spanish-speaking students to set aside the very heart of their cultural identity: their language."