Schools Should Teach English, Not Spanish

* I cannot believe that two schools in the San Fernando Valley offer Spanish-only classes for our children, as stated in the article by Jill Leovy (June 7). This is still the United States of America, and all new persons must learn English to survive and live.

Not only in this country but throughout the world, English is the common language. Let me give you an example of the future of people without knowledge of English.

The other day I tried to do business in a well-known department store. I was shocked. The girl at the checkout stand could not speak English.

Try as I might, I could not get my question answered. I called for the manager, complained and then left the store without my purchase. I will never go back to that store again.

What was the manager thinking when he hired someone who could not communicate with a customer? (This was in the West Valley, a very English-speaking neighborhood.)

I am concerned about the clerk. How is she going to grow? Get a better job? Become someone? How is she going to get educated without knowing English?

English is the second-most-spoken language in the world, after Chinese. English is spoken in world commerce. Pilots are required to speak English, as are shipping crews.

I have gone to many countries and easily found someone who could speak English--but not Spanish or most other languages.

Why are the schools even thinking of teaching Spanish to U. S. citizens?

Rather than teaching Spanish, I suggest the schools give each person a basic English exam upon entering school. If there is little or no knowledge of English, these people should be put in a class that concentrates on teaching English until they are fluent.

They may end up being six months behind English-speaking students but they will be able to learn faster upon entering the normal school system and be able to join our society at a much higher level.

We must not lower the majority of students’ level of learning by having bilingual education.

Our country cannot grow, the clerk cannot grow and others cannot grow unless they are educated and can communicate. English is a must.

CHARLES DUSHECK

Chatsworth