Children Should Be Taught in English

* In reference to your article “Bilingual Class Backers Decry Dole’s Proposal” (Sept. 7), you quote several LAUSD students who are alarmed at Dole’s proposal to get rid of bilingual education. These students do not speak English and fear the loss of the 30 minutes a day they are instructed in English in accordance with LAUSD’s bilingual master plan.

That’s right: 30 minutes a day! That 30 minutes goes under the heading of English as a Second Language (emphasis on second). For Spanish-speaking kids, who constitute the majority of kids in the program, all academic subjects, i.e. math, social studies, science, are taught in Spanish. For these students, bilingual is a misnomer: they are not learning English.

As for the argument that mastering a primary language is a prerequisite for acquiring a new one, State Board of Education statistics show that since 1982, almost 10 years after bilingual programs were in full force in the state, while the number of non-English speaking kids doubled, the absolute number of kids making the transition to English classes fell by 2,000. If that isn’t a failed program, what is?

Dole is merely pointing out that failure, as has our own state board, which in July gave the green light to districts to teach English first. Newly formed districts, take heed!

DOUGLAS LASKEN

Woodland Hills