Bilingual Education

I can’t help but react to the plan as described in this article.

Having taught about 30 years in the L.A. Unified School District, I have painfully experienced the gradual and sometimes not-so-gradual erosion of the use and the teaching of English in our schools.

However, I do remember that during World War II our soldiers were given intensified instruction in languages much more difficult than English--and succeeded. Submerging students in a new language, other than their mother tongue is the only way to achieve competence in the new language. Additional help, of course, must be also given. But why deprive our youth of the important tool to successfully compete in tomorrow’s world? Schools are supposed to prepare for life.

Politicians found out how easy it is to get elected by playing on the emotion and pride of minorities. To the detriment of all of us they are greedily selling the future of our children for votes. That can never be right.

HERTA LEEDS

Van Nuys