Pacific Islanders a Distinct Ingredient in Cultural Stew

Re “Ethnic Diversity in South O.C. Schools on Rise” and “Early Start on a Second Language” (March 23): (Bernie) Grotsky has in his class children from Colombia, Czechoslovakia, Bolivia, Taiwan and Mexico. I’m sure there are Chinese around and Russians as well.

Is each ethnic group to be taught in its own language, up to the sixth grade, as the article suggests, in health, science, social studies and reading? Is each of these teachers not to speak in English in front of these children as is customary, up to the sixth grade?

Our world economy means that we have to communicate with each other. Is there any reason why English, the universal language, is inadequate? Can only Spanish ethnics speak to Spanish ethnics, and so on for all ethnics? Is there something wrong with having a common ethnicity, American? Shouldn’t pride in America be paramount? Are we to have an army where divisions are set up by ethnicity?

What kind of an insane world are we creating? The need is to learn English as soon as possible to fit into a greater America, not to split off from other groups in ghetto-like isolation.

JEROME GREENBLATT, Laguna Hills