Debate Over Bilingual Education

Re “A Bilingual Helping Hand,” Commentary, Dec. 17: Lucy Tse made an excellent case, not for classic bilingual education, but for immersion with primary language support. Tse was put in a class conducted in English, but was supported in her efforts to learn English both in English and in her primary language. Many schools, including the one where I teach, use English language learner classes conducted in English with primary language support.

True bilingual education is another option if the resources are available, if the students are properly chosen, if students are transitioned at the right pace and if the program is implemented consistently. Unfortunately, the Unz initiative does not give educators the flexibility needed to design the program around the needs of students and the resources available. It allows only one model and not a very good one at that.

LARRY WIENER

Alhambra

I was very disappointed to read the Dec. 14 Column Left by Roberto Rodriguez and Patrisia Gonzales claiming that I am not really in support of the “English for the Children” initiative against “bilingual education.” This is foolish. I am absolutely in favor of the initiative. I have been meeting and talking with members of the campaign since spring, long before the text was finalized or the signature gathering began.

I am also very glad to be working again with Gloria Matta Tuchman, whom I have known and admired for almost 10 years.

Gloria and I are teachers. If Rodriguez had ever asked me about my background on the issue, I could have told him the story of how I fought so hard to get rid of bilingual education at Garfield High School, where I taught in the 1980s. I could have told him the story of Henry Gradillas, the courageous Garfield principal, who stood with me on the issue and suffered for it. Together, we ended the bilingual program at our school because we saw that it hurt the education of Latino students.

The column claims that the initiative calls for sending teachers to prison and that I am unaware of this. Such an absurd lie about the initiative proves that Rodriguez and Gonzales have not even bothered to read the text.

JAIME A. ESCALANTE

Honorary Chairman

English for the Children

Los Angeles

The purpose of bilingual education is not, as Rodriguez and Gonzales claim, to “produce students who are fully competent in college-level course work in two languages.” Most bilingual programs use early-exit bilingual education, which is not even designed to make students fully literate in their home language. The Unz initiative does not call for sending teachers to prison. The ballot measure gives parents the right to sue--for damages--any school district employee who willfully refuses to provide English language instruction to their children.

As a Latina bilingual teacher in the barrio, I’m thankful that we’ve finally begun to talk about bilingual education openly.

MARIE F. RODRIGUEZ

San Gabriel