Language problems: New Jersey school refuses to allow valedictorian to give bilingual speech at grad
Title
Language problems: New Jersey school refuses to allow valedictorian to give bilingual speech at grad
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Vtmbh article article order
4
Vtmbh article author
Rubén Domínguez
Vtmbh article blurb
Valedictorian Angela Salazar wants to thank her family, some of whom only understand Spanish, as part of her graduation speech. School officials, however, demand she stick to English.
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Angela Victoria Salazar has won numerous college scholarships, received academic awards this year from New Jersey Governor James E. McGreevy and New Brunswick Mayor Jim Cahill, and is this years valedictorian of New Brunswick High School. However, despite all her achievements, and the fact that 2001 valedictorian Aniel Cruz gave a bilingual speech at his graduation, Salazar will not be allowed to give her valedictory speech in both English and Spanish this year.
This school has never recognized any of my achievements, and now that I will graduate first in my class they are going to take away my right to give my speech in both English and Spanish, grieved 17-year-old Salazar, whose father, Ivan Salazar, is a pathologist from Ecuador. Since her arrival at the school three years ago, Salazar has excelled in academic achievements. Today she calmly asked that the school show me some respect.
A memorandum signed this year by the schools Activities Coordinator, Angela Cephas, requires Salazar to limit her speech to five minutes. The memorandum also states that the students written speech, approved in advance by the school, is the only one he or she may read at graduation, and that the speech should focus on the students positive experiences at New Brunswick High School. The school has warned Salazar that any deviation from her written speech would result in termination of her time at the podium.
I feel disappointed and destroyed. This means so much to me and I have shed many tears over this matter. Even though I am in the United States and I speak English, on my graduation day I want to give thanks to people who have supported me over the years and who do not speak English. I want to express my appreciation to them in Spanish, Salazar said.
The mayor gave the order that this years graduation would take place only in English, Salazar explained. This afternoon, after two previous attempts to speak with Mayor Cahill, Salazar went to his office accompanied by her father and stepmother, Berta León, to demand that he change his decision. What am I supposed to do? Salazar asked the mayors press secretary, Edward Bray, wait until after graduation when the mayor can see me to resolve the problem? Bray refused to intervene on Salazars behalf, saying that the school board, not the mayor, should resolve the issue.
Dr. Salazar disagreed and expressed his disappointment, This is a violation of her constitutional rights of freedom of expression.
This school has never recognized any of my achievements, and now that I will graduate first in my class they are going to take away my right to give my speech in both English and Spanish, grieved 17-year-old Salazar, whose father, Ivan Salazar, is a pathologist from Ecuador. Since her arrival at the school three years ago, Salazar has excelled in academic achievements. Today she calmly asked that the school show me some respect.
A memorandum signed this year by the schools Activities Coordinator, Angela Cephas, requires Salazar to limit her speech to five minutes. The memorandum also states that the students written speech, approved in advance by the school, is the only one he or she may read at graduation, and that the speech should focus on the students positive experiences at New Brunswick High School. The school has warned Salazar that any deviation from her written speech would result in termination of her time at the podium.
I feel disappointed and destroyed. This means so much to me and I have shed many tears over this matter. Even though I am in the United States and I speak English, on my graduation day I want to give thanks to people who have supported me over the years and who do not speak English. I want to express my appreciation to them in Spanish, Salazar said.
The mayor gave the order that this years graduation would take place only in English, Salazar explained. This afternoon, after two previous attempts to speak with Mayor Cahill, Salazar went to his office accompanied by her father and stepmother, Berta León, to demand that he change his decision. What am I supposed to do? Salazar asked the mayors press secretary, Edward Bray, wait until after graduation when the mayor can see me to resolve the problem? Bray refused to intervene on Salazars behalf, saying that the school board, not the mayor, should resolve the issue.
Dr. Salazar disagreed and expressed his disappointment, This is a violation of her constitutional rights of freedom of expression.
Vtmbh article date
2002-06-21
Vtmbh article edition
24
Vtmbh article hit count
565
Vtmbh article keywords
Vtmbh article line breaks
1
Vtmbh article original language
Spanish
Vtmbh article publication
Hoy
Vtmbh article section
news
Vtmbh article thumb
Vtmbh article title
Language problems: New Jersey school refuses to allow valedictorian to give bilingual speech at graduation
Vtmbh article translator
Hannah Emmerich
Source
born-digital
Media Type
article
Original Name
Valedictorian Angela Salazar wants to thank her family, some of whom only understand Spanish, as par
Created by Author
yes
Described by Author
no
Date Entered
2002-06-21
Collection
Citation
“Language problems: New Jersey school refuses to allow valedictorian to give bilingual speech at grad,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed October 1, 2026, https://911.dev.chnm.gmu.edu/items/1423/.