A school principal in Hempstead, Texas, a small town located 50 miles west of Houston, was suspended with pay and will not have her contract renewed after announcing on the school's public address system that students were not to speak Spanish on school grounds.

Half of all public school students in Texas are Hispanic, and Hempstead is no different. The trend is showing up all over the country as well. Augustin Pinedo, the director of the local region of the League of United Latin American Citizens, says:

"It sends the message that the child is not wanted: 'We don't want your color. We don't want your kind.' They then tend to drop out early."

Since Hempstead Middle School Principle Amy Lacey was suspended, the district Superintendent Delma Flores-smith says her property has been vandalized, and the brake systems of several school district buses were disabled. It is believed that a campaign to intimidate Hispanics has been set off by the suspension.

The damage was investigated by Hempstead police, but no suspects were named. The FBI has been asked to step in and investigate where local police are coming up short.

Does Principal Lacey have the authority to tell students what language to speak on campus? Did Hempstead School District officials go too far by suspending her?

Tell us in the comments below.

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