Vol. 73/No. 18      May 11, 2009

Phanachone listed Lao as her first language on a school registration form out of respect for her heritage. That triggered a federally mandated test, according to school officials. School administrators also told her if she did not take the test she could not continue in the track athletic program, go to the prom, or participate in other spring activities.

In April, her membership in the honor society was revoked for failing to maintain “standards of scholarship, leadership, service, and character.” The student maintained a near perfect grade point average.

Phanachone, who is a senior, had taken the English Language Development Assessment test two years earlier in her sophomore year. She described the test as so easy it’s “insulting.” Given the test again as a junior she filled in all the “C” answers in protest. This time she decided not to take the test, but sat in silence in the room.

In an article published in the March 6 Des Moines Register she said, "I’ve worked hard. I’ve earned my grades, and here they are handing me a test asking me to describe the chair I’m sitting in.” She described the test as demeaning and racist.

In response to the suspension, Storm Lake students wore “Support Lori” T-shirts. Senior Kristi Davis told the Des Moines Register, “We’ve always been taught to stand up for what’s right and now the time has come for that.” The students were planning a protest when the suspension was lifted.

In an April 6 press release, the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) protested the revocation of Phanachone's membership in the National Honor Society. The OCA called on the Storm Lake School District to “expunge the disciplinary actions placed on Lori Phanachone.” George Wu, OCA executive director, stated, “What the Storm Lake School District is doing to Ms. Phanachone is wrong. The fact that she has a 3.9 GPA and has excelled in her classes, including English, should speak for itself.”

Two days after receiving the National Honor Society revocation letter, school superintendent Paul Tedesco informed Phanachone that her membership was being reinstated.

U.S. schools receive federal money for every child classified as learning English as a second language. The test is one of the stipulations to receive the funding. Sixty percent of Storm Lake’s 2,000 public school students are learning English as a second language.

Helen Meyers is a meat packer in Perry, Iowa, and member of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1149.
 
 
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