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House probe sought on penalties vs native-speaking students


As the country celebrates “Buwan ng Wika" this month, a youth solon has filed a resolution seeking an inquiry into the penalties imposed by some school on students who speak in Filipino and other native languages. Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raymond “Mong" Palatino on Tuesday filed House Resolution no. 1567 seeking an investigation into the modes employed by schools to promote the use of English by penalizing students for speaking in Filipino and Philippine dialects. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Palatino noted the practice in many schools where students are fined or given demerits for using their mother tongue even during extra-curricular conversations. He said this “colonial attitude" towards English language affects the learning process and self-appreciation of students. “Language is not just a means for communication; it is likewise a double-edged weapon used for repression and emancipation. I am afraid that with the current English teaching practices in our schools, we are unwittingly reinforcing the colonial setup that treats our local cultures as inferior to that of the West," Palatino said. “There is no doubt that we should teach English in our schools, just like we should other foreign languages. But we should do so in a manner that does not trample on our native languages and the learning development of our students. The high functional illiteracy among our people, where language plays a crucial role, is enough for us to rethink our teaching methods with regard to English," he added. Nationalist address To promote the use and appreciation of the country’s native languages, Palatino has scheduled school visits to deliver a brief nationalist address during flag ceremonies in public and private schools. Earlier on Tuesday, Palatino delivered a speech during the flag ceremony in Commonwealth High School in Quezon City. Palatino said the country has around 150 languages that are "suppressed" because of the importance placed on the English language. “Our country has a rich collection of languages that should be preserved. We understand the importance of English in today’s world. But our country’s attempt to integrate in this globalized community of English tongues should not be done at the expense of our vernaculars. Penalizing students for speaking their native language in schools is a crime to our culture and it should be stopped," Palatino said. - VVP, GMA News

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