Let’s Not Ignore the Middle Ground

Sometimes in our society’s great debates, the opinions of people in the middle ground get drowned out by the roars of the extremists. I certainly feel like that has happened to me in the struggle between pro- and anti-187 forces.

When I ran against Mark Slavkin for school board in 1993, I came within 1% of a runoff because I advocated replacing LAUSD’s bilingual programs with English-first instruction for non-English speakers, a position far more popular than district bureaucrats would like to admit. Criticism of bilingual education is considered a conservative position, so naturally I should be in the forefront of the pro-187 forces trying to recall Slavkin, right? Unfortunately for me, I oppose 187, because it won’t work, and because, as a teacher, I don’t feel comfortable targeting children on behalf of Draconian political theories. This puts me out of the loop on the Slavkin recall movement. And yet I’d like to put the squeeze on Slavkin because of his seeming indifference to the harm our bilingual programs are doing to thousands of children who would like to learn English before they enter the job market.

The middle ground can be a tricky place, but it shouldn’t be discounted. There are thousands of people, like myself, who are deeply concerned about illegal immigration but voted no on 187, and neither the Slavkin recall movement nor the bilingual lobby represents us.

DOUGLAS LASKEN

Woodland Hills

* I am amazed that an attorney (Bob Scott) apparently states that at all times elected officials must follow the will of the majority. (“Democracy 101,” Dec. 18)

As an attorney, Mr. Scott should also know that an elected official has a sworn duty to support the Constitution of the United States regardless of the vote of the local electorate. That is called the rule of law. The alternative is mob rule.

As an attorney, Mr. Scott should also know that school administration activities mandated by Proposition 187 have been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court and are therefore illegal. As such, Mr. Scott should know the school board has a duty to oppose Proposition 187.

For that matter, attorneys in California also have a sworn duty to support the Constitution of the United States. Mr. Scott seems to have forgotten his oath as an attorney.

LEONARD CHAITIN

Van Nuys