Bilingual Education
Halford Fairchild confuses two different issues in his article on languages (“Today’s America Needs Many Tongues,” Commentary, Dec. 5). The intent of bilingual education was to assist immigrant children in the transition to English. However, minority activists are now using it to promote biculturalism and to elevate other languages to the same status as English.
Fairchild points to multilingual societies in other parts of the world but fails to mention these same societies are torn by ethnic strife among the different language groups. A multiethnic America has remained a stable society because of our common language.
Fairchild does make a valid point about foreign language studies. Trade and travel opportunities are expanding around the globe but our schools are sadly deficient in language training. I believe the study of one Asian and one European language, including Spanish, should be mandatory, beginning in elementary school and continuing through college. We can and should become more proficient in foreign languages, but the mission of bilingual education is to help foreign-born students master English so they can achieve their full potential in their adopted land.
MIKE GREER, Cerritos
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