Riordan Backing Parents Who Oppose Bilingual Education

Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan threw his support Wednesday behind Latino parents boycotting a downtown school in a battle against bilingual education, the second day that at least 80 children were kept out of class.

Riordan said he intends to ensure that state law guaranteeing parents the choice of English-only instruction is enforced in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

“I’m concerned whether Latino parents are being empowered to make realistic decisions,” Riordan said. “I would like to see the school district become democratic and make sure that before people start their children in school, they get full arguments for and against bilingual education.”

District form letters sent to parents when children fail an English language test give reasons for the view that bilingual education works best but provide no description of the alternatives.

The boycotting parents applauded the news of Riordan’s backing at a Wednesday evening meeting, where most vowed to keep their children away from school until an all-English program is promised for the fall.

Despite earlier refusals to attend, Ninth Street Principal Eleanor Vargas Page came to the meeting and said she would put students in all-English programs if their parents request the change individually and attend a conference to discuss their decision.