No Single Voice on Bilingualism

As Anglo parents in the Orange Unified School District, we wish to express our profound disappointment in the district’s regrettable decision to place an advisory measure on the November ballot concerning the future of English-language acquisition programs in the district. The proposal is exacerbated by the folly of pursuing a permanent state waiver to discontinue all primary-language instruction in favor of English-only classes.

The ill-conceived election proposal runs contrary to true American ideals of fairness for all and trivializes the importance of the democratic process. We all know the predictable outcome of this exercise, so it serves no meaningful purpose. Setting such important public policy by the ballot box allows the Board of Education to abdicate its responsibility. As elected trustees, they are chosen to represent the majority, but the board has a moral and statutory obligation to protect the rights and interests of the minority.

By its words and deeds, the board feels that any government recognition of minority languages sends the improper message to immigrants, encouraging them to believe they can live in the United States without English skills or conforming to “our” ways. No doubt, many of these objections are expressed in good faith, while others reflect ethnic stereotypes or class biases.

Sad to say, they show a pervasive ignorance about how primary-language instruction works and how second languages are acquired because there is no “one best way” for children to secure English skills. If the board believes in parental choice, the trustees should give parents the option of enrolling their children in primary-language or English-only classes. That is true democracy and a real lesson about America’s greatness for immigrants to cherish.

ALAN and ANGELINE TRUDELL

Anaheim Hills

Re “Testing the Limits of Bilingual Education,” Aug. 8:

Gloria Matta Tuchman continues to note the award she received from the League of United Latin American Citizens in 1988.

It is true she was honored in the field of education. The award was bestowed upon her almost a decade ago. People and situations can and do change, depending on what is popular or what is in it for them. We LULAC members cannot and do not support her position on bilingual education.

LULAC supports bilingual education and always has. We believe in higher education and have continued to back up that belief with scholarships and educational programs for our youth.

We do not appreciate Tuchman associating the award she received from our organization with her current attempt to pass an “English only” initiative. Even more offensive is the fact some people are referring to her as “LULAC’s Poster Child.”

SUSIE FLORES

Director

LULAC Orange County District I

Given that Matta Tuchman and other spokespersons for the demise of bilingual education are correct that immersion is the best method for improving performance in the classroom, I think it is clear that the “English for the Children” initiative does not go far enough.

By addressing it only to the needs of Hispanic children, it fails to provide the level playing field necessary for the success of all of our children. I therefore propose an additional initiative for the upcoming election: “Spanish for the Children.”

Since language skills are best learned at an early age, I think it paramount that all English-speaking children be taught entirely in the Spanish language. Without such preparation, our English-speaking kids must inevitably fall behind their Hispanic counterparts who will have the advantage of being fully proficient in two languages rather than just one.

We must provide our children with the language skills necessary for competitive success. I further suggest that having taught, and being Anglo myself (except for my French, German, and Czech heritage), I would make an excellent poster child for the movement.

JOSEPH H. SCHAFFER

Orange

Arguments for or against bilingual education are irrelevant. Even if bilingual education is the pristine path to success, it doesn’t matter because there aren’t enough qualified teachers.

Every year, thousands of teachers on waivers, some who speak not a word of Spanish, teach “bilingual” classes. Instead of a second-rate bilingual system, let’s have a first-rate immersion program. Instead of requiring teachers to learn Spanish at night, let’s thoroughly train them in how to work successfully in English with limited-English-speaking students.

Spanish-speaking students will then be able to be integrated with children of other ethnic backgrounds.

SUZANNA BORTZ

Laguna Niguel