Valedictorian's speech sets off call for English-only at graduations

Matthew Pleasant / Houma Courier HOUMA -- Cindy Vo faced the audience at Ellender High School’s graduation last month wearing a valedictorian’s vestments. The American-born daughter of Vietnamese immigrants spoke of high-school memories, friends and the future. Then she recited a sentence in Vietnamese, dedicated to her parents as they looked on. Matt Stamey / Houma Courier Cousins Hue and Cindy Vo, who spoke in Vietnamese during their valedictorian addresses during Ellender High’s commencement May 19. Their speech unwittingly prompted some officials to consider requiring all public-school graduation addresses in Terrebonne be spoken entirely in English. "Co len minh khong bang ai, co suon khong ai bang minh," she said into the microphone. The 18-year-old graduate told classmates that the line, roughly translated, was a... [read full story]