unforgiveable

I feel that it is a great dis-service if adults, holding very passionate and narrow-minded views about their home tongue, move into a different culture and do not teach their children the language of that culture. I feel it is the equivalent of depriving your child of an education. Indeed, when one does not know the language of the land, educational opportunities as well as economic and social opportunities fall by the wayside. And for any parent to allow opportunities slip by for their children is in my mind: ridiculous, unfair and selfish. Yes, I am not saying that your mother tongue is not relevant or important - and no one is saying, solely teach one's child the "foreign" tongue. However, I am saying that one should allow and actually force their children to learn the foreign language, to give them a footing in that society. I just read an article today, where the Poles had schools set up to teach their children to speak English in the United Kingdom. And the Scottish people living in Polish communities went to schools which taught them Polish, so that they could learn the language of the "area" within they were situated in. Indeed, that is how it should be, for if one is solely intent on sticking to their language, they do miss a great deal of opportunity - not just that of learning a new language and opening another path of one's brain - but - social, economic and educational opportunities made available in the foreign language all disappear, and that to me, is just unforgivable.