A letter from Esmeralda County's Superintendent Robert Aumaugher sent to parents in Dyer drew a strong response from Nye County Superintendent Rob Roberts.

Aumaugher's letter, phrased more like a request, asked students not to speak Spanish on the school bus.

Roberts responded to the letter, which was approved by the Esmeralda County School Board at a meeting in October, because the bus in question carries about 30 students from the small farming and ranching community across county lines to Tonopah High School.

"The Nye County School District does not adhere to the practice of not letting students speak in their native tongue while they're out riding school buses," Roberts said at the Dec. 3 Nye County school board meeting.

In a later interview, Roberts added the same went for time in-between classes, on the playground, or anywhere outside of class.

"We realize in an educational setting students need to speak a language that's most conducive to learning, and that would be English, but otherwise they're free to speak in the language they choose," Roberts said.

The letter specifically affects about a dozen Hispanic-speaking students who are immigrant farmworkers' children in the small community.

Aumaugher defended his request by explaining he had recently attended a forum put on by the Nevada University System during which he was told 75 percent of white students in the state graduate high school while only 55 percent of Hispanic students do.

After going on to explain similar statistics were found for college, Aumaugher wrote, "I find this information totally unacceptable."

"Being proficient in reading, writing and speaking English will be your child's key to economic success," Aumaugher wrote. "Having them get a good paying job will hinge upon their English skills."

He also wrote that students will face competition in the work force from English-speaking competitors, who are willing to work for lower wages, and as such, "We must compete or our standard of living will fall tremendously."

Elaborating on that statement in a phone interview, Aumaugher said he was frustrated as a citizen by constantly hearing that the Spanish-speaking population is a crucial part of the work force due to their willingness to take low-paying jobs.

"That dismays me," Aumaugher said. "I see no reason why the Hispanic population can't be doctors and lawyers and everything else. But to do that they're going to need to make sacrifices."

In addition, Aumaugher cites discipline as another reason for his asking students "to practice speaking English" while riding the bus.

He explained that several incidents had occurred in which Spanish-speaking students were reprimanded by the bus driver, and immediately afterwards the students began speaking to each other in Spanish.

"Let's face it, right after being disciplined, they're not talking about what they're going to do at the game on Friday," Aumaugher said.

Aumaugher also explained that he has a Spanish-speaking daughter-in-law and a grandson who is being raised to be bilingual.

Aumaugher attributes his daughter-in-law's success to her having strong English skills, another reason why he feels having students practice English as much as possible is essential to their future success.

"I want them to practice their English every opportunity they get because I know some of these students, once they step off that bus, won't hear another word of English until the next day," Aumaugher said.

The superintendent confirmed there is no established procedure in place in regard to students who violate the request.

"We're not going up and down the aisle whacking kids on the hand if they say a Spanish word," the superintendent said. "We're just asking them to practice English every chance they get."

In addition, Aumaugher said he had not received any phone calls or comments from members in the community about the letter, which was translated into Spanish so some of the parents could read it.

According to Maggie McLetchie, counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada, Aumaugher will receive a letter from the ACLU asking him to rescind the policy.

"We think it violates (students) free speech and their First Amendment rights," McLetchie said. "And it implicates not only the students that are Spanish-speaking, but students who speak Spanish as well."

She said the letter could have a chilling affect on students and discourage them not only from talking to each other but from working on Spanish homework during the long rides.

When questioned about similar previously published comments, Aumaugher responded, "Of course they can do their Spanish homework on the bus."

McLetchie said that didn't matter, however, because the letter sent an entirely different message.

"The face of the letter bars anyone from speaking Spanish," McLetchie said.

Asked what the ACLU's course of action would be should the letter not be rescinded, she would not comment but did say litigation is always the organization's last resort.