This thread would be funny if it weren't so sad.

I'm always amazed at the linguistic abilities of so many St. Maarteners I meet and come to know. I don't know the numbers statistically but I'm under the impression that school is mandatory for legitimate St. Maarteners and I really have no idea about those youngsters living on the island as illegal residents. I do recall there were serious arguments about this a few years ago and I assume these young people are educated as well but I don't know this as fact.

But at the same time, here at home in CT., school is mandatory for all young people up to the age sixteen and I'm often appalled at the number of young people born and raised here that can't speak their native English fluently, never mind having the ability to speak in three or four other tongues as so many of the island residents do.

I'm always impressed when I speak to some of the maids at our timeshare who manage to speak English, French, Spanish and Papiamento. I can only vaguely recall some of the high school French words I learned so many years ago and most of the ones I recall aren't even conversational in polite company! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

I think the original premis of the article was a good one - it would certainly simplify things for everyone if English was made the official language of the Dutch side of the island and if all the legal docs, deeds, licenses, laws, etcetera were printed in a tongue all could comprehend, even we pathetic US citizens who mostly speak only English. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />