Cyndi Loza

A policy to bar Spanish speaking on school buses in Esmerelda County was challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union on Thursday.

The policy forbids Spanish speaking by students from the town of Dyer during their 90-minute school bus ride to and from Tonopah High School in Nye County.

Gary Peck, Nevada ACLU spokesman, said forbidding students from speaking Spanish while riding the bus discriminates against children of Hispanic backgrounds and violates the constitution. About 30 students are bussed.

“One would hope that (school) officials in Esmerelda County understand these fundamental principles, after all, they are the ones teaching the kids about civic duty and the constitution,” Peck said.

The Esmeralda County school’s Superintendent Robert Aumaugher said the policy aimed to help better enforce discipline on the bus and help Spanish-speaking students practice their English.

“Common sense tells you that if these kids want to be successful, they need to speak as much English as they can,” Aumaugher said.

The organization and its lawyers will meet with the district’s superintendent to discuss lifting the ban immediately, Peck said.

On Oct. 12, Aumaugher sent a letter to the parents of Dyer, a small town in Southern Nevada near the California border, asking them to understand the necessity of the policy. He said that the ban would reinforce discipline from non-Spanish speaking bus drivers and help the students practice their English-language skills.

“We’re trying to maintain order and respect on the bus,” said Aumaugher, who added English is a power language.

Dyer parent Sherry Harrison said she takes the 70 mile drive to Tonopah to pick up her 14-year-old son from the high school and limit his exposure to the staff on the school bus.

“This whole school district is ridiculous,” said Harrison, who laughed because the letter sent to the Hispanic parents in October was sent in Spanish. “Just because this is a small community doesn’t mean we don’t have the rights that larger communities have.”

Steve Mulvenon, Washoe County School District spokesman, said there is no similar rule in Washoe County and students “are free to speak whichever language they choose.”

The policy in Esmerelda County was sparked after a bus driver reprimanded one of the students who ride the bus. After the student was disciplined, they turned to another student and began speaking Spanish, Aumaugher said.

“What do you suppose they’re saying?” Aumaugher said. “I was a kid once. It was probably a disrespectful comment they were making.” Peck said the ACLU does not find this incident a justification for the ban on Spanish.

“A blanket ban on non-English speaking languages is not a way to deal with those sorts of disciplinary problems,” Peck said.

Though the policy is generating attention, Aumaugher said he has not heard many complaints and it is “a non issue in the community.”

“Since when are fundamental constitutional rights a non issue?” Peck said. “Since when is discrimination a non issue? “