Apology issued to student reprimanded for Menominee language

GREEN BAY (AP) -- The Catholic Diocese of Green Bay is apologizing to a seventh-grader who was punished after using her native Menominee language in the classroom.

Miranda Washinawatok said a teacher at Sacred Heart Catholic School in Shawano reprimanded her for exchanging phrases used with two other girls. She was later benched from a basketball game.

In a Feb. 22 letter, the diocese's director of education, Joseph Bound, said diocese officials wish they could change how the incident was handled.

Letters were also sent from the principal, the assistant basketball coach and the teacher.
The girl's mother, Tanaes Washinawatok, said Tuesday she's not satisfied with the teacher's letter and will ask that the woman be fired.

A call to the pastor at the local parish seeking a response wasn't immediately returned Tuesday.