A Catholic school's policy that requires students to speak only English while in school does not in itself create a hostile learning environment, a federal judge ruled Friday.
U.S. District Judge J. Thomas Marten ruled for the Catholic Diocese of Wichita, denying a request by three Hispanic families to ban the policy. While the policy as written did not violate any law, the school's failure to recognize its impact on the Hispanic students was troubling, he said.
'It is not my place to pass on the wisdom or soundness of the policy,' Marten said in ruling from the bench. He said he would issue a more detailed written decision in a few days.
Marten told about 60 people who crowded into the courtroom that it was a sad day for all involved. He scolded both sides for bringing an issue about lunchroom and playground rules into a federal courtroom.
'It has divided a school. It has divided a congregation. It has divided the Hispanic community in a congregation,' Marten said. 'And it has touched a nerve across the country.'
