Flemish only
A Flemish town has banned speech in any language other than Dutch in their schools. This covers the playground, parents talking while waiting for children at the gate, etc. The town, Merchtem, is in the Flanders region of Belgium where 90% of the population is Flemish but there has been an influx of French and Arabic speakers from elsewhere in Belgium and other areas. This is deeply worrying for the newcomers and for general integration.
The mayor said that said ordinary townspeople were upset by the sound of non-Dutch speakers chattering among themselves while waiting to pick up their children. If that is all they have to worry about, then they have it easy! How is this enforceable? How is this not complete discrimination? How do you teach languages in classrooms?
In the home of the EU, how is this even allowed. Or maybe it gives hope that the EU can be beaten.
The mayor said that said ordinary townspeople were upset by the sound of non-Dutch speakers chattering among themselves while waiting to pick up their children. If that is all they have to worry about, then they have it easy! How is this enforceable? How is this not complete discrimination? How do you teach languages in classrooms?
In the home of the EU, how is this even allowed. Or maybe it gives hope that the EU can be beaten.
posted by Jonathan | Friday, September 01, 2006
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