The way I see it, if my kid was graduating as valedictorian of his high school class, I'd be so deliriously happy and proud I wouldn't care what kind of a commencement address he gave. Shoot, he could get up there and sing Old McDonald Had a Farm -- he's valedictorian, woo-hoo! That's my boy! But I have to admit, the speech Orestimba High School valedictorian Saul Tello, Jr. gave at his graduation does kind of tug at the maternal heart strings.
It wasn't the content of the speech so much as the way he chose to deliver it: In Spanish, to honor his Spanish-speaking parents. Awww.
Of course, not everybody in the audience understood Spanish, which led to a bit of a problem.
More from The Stir: 'You Are Not Special' Graduation Speech Is One Every Kid Needs to Hear (VIDEO)
Now, on the one hand, I get why non-Spanish-speaking audience members were upset -- it would kind of stink to not understand a word of the speech at your kid's graduation. But here's the thing: Originally, Saul Tello wanted to give the speech in both English and Spanish, but his principal, Jessie Ceja, told him there wouldn't be enough time. So Tello chose Spanish, for his parents' sake.
As a mom, I find that incredibly sweet. Plus, bear in mind that the population of California is 38% Latino. I'm sure his gesture was widely appreciated.
Apparently the school is planning to include inserts printed with both Spanish and English versions of the speech in future graduation programs, which seems like an excellent solution to me. Good luck, Saul!
Do you think giving his commencement address in Spanish was the right thing for this valedictorian to do?
Image via Dave Herholz/Flickr
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Comments 80
Was he TAUGHT in English at this school? If so, he should have given his speech in English. Dedicating the ending of his speech as a tribute to his parents...in Spanish...would have been a lovely touch.
I think it was rude. When you are dealing with a population that predominantly speaks one language, you do not speak another. It doesn't matter if it's Spanish, Chinese, French or English. A Spanish 'tag' on the speech would have been far more appropriate.
And for those who say that California used to belong to Mexico... so what? It is part of the United States now. That is completely irrelevant. Louisiana used to belong to France, too, so all residents of Louisiana should speak French? Ridiculous. And again, irrelevant.
DUMB. Inconsiderate to others in attendance.
And I'm Hispanic....................................
But I'm an American 1st.
Just an FYI, English is not the official language of the US - there is on official language. That said, I'm very much against this speech being in Spanish. I would have left the ceremony, but to each his own.
I grew up in a city that is over 90% Hispanic/Mexican American. I'm not part of that percentage. I graduated 2011 and both my school's valedictorian and saludictorian did their speeches in English although one of them did do a part of their speech in Spanish and I didn't mind. I appreciated it very much. I think it's rude of him to exclude his graduating classmates by speaking only Spanish for his parent's benefits.
Freedom of speech if the entire event belonged to ONLY him!!!!!!!!!!