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[quote=Anonymous]I teach at a school with a large Latino population.  We have these sorts of meetings to meet the needs of Hispanic families in ways that having translators at a PTA meeting cannot.  While it's true that they serve as a place for Hispanic parents to get comfortable and have questions answered in a lower stress environment, it's also very helpful to have school jargon explained.  Many Hispanic parent speak English, but it is likely a second language, and not their dominant one.  Additionally, they may have had their own education in their home country, and thus have little background on the American system.  There is also a cultural element, in that some Spanish-speaking cultures tend to have different attitudes towards education for boys vs. girls.  Events like the one you describe truly are an opportunity for parents to learn more about "supporting their child so they are prepared for the future."  Put yourself in these parents' shoes.  What if you moved to Spain and had to navigate the school system there?  Even if you speak fluent Spanish, wouldn't having occasional "American Parent Meetings" help you help your child succeed in Spanish school?

Also, although it's not exactly PC to say, Hispanic parents are far more likely to be marginalized, work multiple or off-hours jobs, have childcare issues, and rely on public transportation, all factors that would generally make it more difficult to participate in events at school.  Making it a "celebration" not only makes it clear that they can bring their children but also gives incentive to make the extra effort to come.

Think of it this way, OP... we all strive to give our children what is fair, not necessarily what is equal.  The school is making the effort to be fair and meet the needs of all parents.  Having information and speech translated is a great first step, but doesn't guarantee complete access.  I previously taught at a school with a larger Vietnamese population, and there were similar groups and events for those parents.  And to answer your question about funding, much of it probably comes from the Division of ESOL and Bilingual Programs.  They offer parent support to schools for ESOL populations from all languages, but obviously Spanish-speaking parents represent the largest group.[/quote]

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