School Language Issue Is About Control

* Your recent editorial (“Battle of Words,” March 16) contained some incorrect statements. There is nothing in the resolution that specifically implies that all teaching be done in English. The first sentence tells it all: “To restore to local school boards the control of programs to teach limited and non-English-speaking students.”

Currently, the California Department of Education, or CDE, gives school districts six choices of how to be “in compliance.” The districts must fit into one of these plans. The CDE has notified our district that to remain in compliance, we must send teachers to class to learn either Spanish or Vietnamese. All of this is non-voluntary, and the teacher faces transfer from their current assignment if they choose not to attend the classes. CDE threatens to withhold state funds from the districts if they remain “out of compliance.” To force an American citizen to learn a foreign language to keep their job is unconstitutional at best.

The majority of members of this board feel that this issue can be best addressed by using a teacher/bilingual aide teaching team. This would give these children both exposure to English, and help in their native language when they need it.

MICHAEL J. VERRENGIA

President, Board of Trustees

Westminster School District