It seems like with each passing year we are becoming more aware of different affinity months. This is good. For most of American history the groups we are recognizing with said months have been underrepresented and overlooked. However, I have noticed that the celebration of these months sometimes takes the place of actual tangible action in support of said groups. So too is the case with Hispanic Heritage month.

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage month is great. Making your students aware of the culture and contributions of Hispanic individuals is the right thing to do. The issue is that is often where it stops. What comes after all of the posters and school projects? How are you serving your Hispanic students year-round?

Many of the Hispanic students I have taught have come from another school … I won’t say any names. What I do know is these schools publicly celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month while the actual Hispanic students and families were underserved by those schools. There were no teachers who spoke Spanish other than the English learner teacher who they only saw once or twice a week regardless of their English proficiency. There also were little efforts to reach out to parents who were not English speakers themselves. Spanish speaking students were often spread out among classes without any thought to their daily experience. One of my student’s parents told me that he was the only Spanish speaker in his class all year and as he wasn’t proficient in English, he never had anyone to talk to.

But I don’t want to generalize about Hispanic students in regard to their English proficiency because that is in-fact part of the problem. Often times schools will put every single Hispanic student in the immigrant box or English learner box when in fact many Hispanic students are born here and speak almost perfect English. As a matter of fact, the assumption they speak Spanish at all is often misplaced and a huge source of frustration for students who are asked to “translate” for their Spanish speaking peers.

Just like with Black History Month, many schools have not actually incorporated Hispanic history into their curriculum. Or, if they have, it is just the history of colonialism. Hispanic students deserve to learn about their history year-round and in greater depth than what colonialism lessons would offer.

Hispanic culture has a wide range of customs, expectations, and traditions. How well is your school accommodating them?

Are you including their major holidays in your lessons?

Are you recognizing and utilizing their extended family structure?

Are you chastising a student for not looking you in the eye even though that might be a sign of disrespect where they come from?

Hispanic heritage month is really just a start. Just like with Black History Month, it is a useful reminder to do things you are already supposed to do. Learning about Day of the Dead or watching “Stand and Deliver” can be cool experiences but Hispanic students deserve to have their identity incorporated into your school plans year-round.