A school district in Texas is under fire after middle school principal Amy Lacey allegedly made an announcement over the intercom that students were no longer permitted to speak Spanish in class.

Students at Hempstead Middle School, in the Houston suburb of the same name, said that the announcement in question was made on Nov. 12.

According to Greatschools.org, 55 percent of the students at Hempstead Middle School are Hispanic, and the ruling on the part of the principal did not go over well with students and their parents.

"People don't want to speak it no more, and they don't want to get caught speaking it because they're going to get in trouble," Kiara Lozano, a sixth-grade student, told KHOU in Houston.

Other students were more defiant in their reactions.

"I'm not scared. I'm going to keep speaking my language. It's my first language," Yedhany Gallegos was quoted as saying by KEYE.

The school has since said it has no policy against Spanish and issued a written response to parents on the matter:

"We are continuing to 'Create a Culture of Excellence' which includes embracing all students of all cultural and diverse backgrounds. Our priorities are our students.

"The district has received allegations regarding this issue and the district is investigating the matter. At this time the administrator is on administrative leave with pay until the investigation is completed and appropriate action is determined. This is all we can say at this time as there is a pending investigation on this matter.

"The district is committed to efficiently and effectively resolving this matter with as little disruption to our students and their learning environment as possible."

Parents are upset with the district because they say it took two weeks for clarification to come from the school.