A lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court Monday against St. Anne Catholic School. The suit claims that an English-only policy "created and continues to promote racial and national origin discrimination."
The suit was filed by four Wichita families including Mike and Clara Silva whose 11-year-old son was kicked out of school last fall for refusing to sign a pledge saying that he would not speak Spanish in school.
Adam Silva is a United States citizen whose first language is English.
The school says the policy was created to prevent bullying.
"What he and some of his friends were doing was using the Spanish language to make derogatory statements against other students," says Wichita Catholic Diocese spokesperson Fred Solis.
Mike and Clara Silva say that's not true. They say they were never told of any discipline issues with their son.
"There are families who feel unwanted-treated different. Their children are harassed and they continue to feel afraid. They are afraid everyday they're going to be asked to leave like Adam," says Clara Silva.
The school disagrees and says Adam was not asked to leave. It says he was transferred at the request of the Silvas.
The families are seeking an order barring the English-only policy, damages for emotional suffering, plus all attorney fees.
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