A Better Chance to Learn

Gov. George Deukmejian can give 3 million children a better chance at a decent education by signing a bill, AB 37, that the Legislature sent to him this week.

A feature of the bill would continue bilingual instruction for public-school students who have yet to get a firm grip on the English language. It also would reauthorize special programs for the gifted, the poor, Native Americans, students who do not read well and those who need special education.

The bilingual program is designed to allow 500,000 youngsters in public schools to learn in their first language while they master English. State guidelines written to ensure consistency in programs so that all youngsters would be treated equally expired last month.

Efforts to extend the guidelines have been stalled by supporters of the politically popular but socially distasteful English-only philosophy, whose narrow view would punish children whose only crime is that they speak another language.

The measure before the governor would extend state requirements to 1992, but with some changes. Sponsored by Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco), the measure would relax some guidelines to give school districts more flexibility in meeting them.

Under the new law, bilingual teachers would not have to pass a strict fluency examination in a language other than English, and those who were not fluent could conduct classes with the help of an aide who was fluent in the language. School districts, hampered by a widespread shortage of bilingual teachers, would benefit greatly.

Districts also could increase the use of English in bilingual classes, but not to the point of swamping youngsters who cannot absorb what they cannot understand. Typically, students keep pace with academic subjects in their first language while studying English for two to three years before moving to traditional classrooms. School districts would also be required to seek written consent from 90% of the parents of students assigned to bilingual classes, to protect the wishes of parents who don’t want their children in bilingual classes.

The compromises should persuade the governor, who vetoed a similar bill last year, to put aside his reservations. He should have no quarrel with the bill, because money is in the budget for all programs. He should act quickly so that educators have time to plan before school starts.

Bilingual education may be the only chance that millions of students have to get an education. The governor can give them and others with special needs the chance to learn and to contribute their talents to the state’s future by signing AB 37.