Airing Bilingual Education Issues

* A letter about bilingual education Oct. 21 from Stephen Krashen, who supported the practice of native-language instruction, was from one of bilingual education’s biggest supporters, with whom I recently participated in a round-table discussion about bilingual education.

At least it was supposed to be a round-table discussion. Krashen and the other pro-bilingual panelist, Jackie Rojas, spent the better part of two hours bashing the “English for the Children” initiative.

They did the same to Gloria Matta Tuchman, who was--like me--a bilingual reform panelist. Their favorite tactic was to first interrupt, then talk loud and fast before either of us could protest.

While host Mike Landa did his best to moderate, these two kept going back to the initiative. So much for a round-table discussion. They did, however, pretty much leave me alone. It could be because our school district was getting ready to release our test results from our bilingual waiver. The results were great! Not only did we meet our goals, we exceeded them! That kind of success is hard to argue with. According to your own poll, a large part of the community would also like to see an end to this practice of holding back our non-English- speaking students by using native-language instruction.

MICHAEL J. VERRENGIA

President

Westminster School District

Board of Trustees

* Since we have seen students both fail and progress in their English as a result of bilingual programs, we cannot as a nation--more importantly, as the state of California--yet decide whether the programs are a complete failure or success.

With more than 1.3 million children who do not speak fluent English, it is our duty to consider the best solution even if it requires more time through legislation.

Though a ballot initiative in June of 1998 would be the fastest solution, it could also prove to be the worst. Until there is more extensive research on the results of bilingual programs and their effect on the children within and around them, we should not look for a ballot that would completely eliminate the programs.

MICHELLE ARBISO

Anaheim

* Re “English First Honors School Board Trustees,” Oct 15:

The dismantling of bilingual education in the Orange Unified School District is the only way to help bilingual students learn English. In what aspects does teaching Spanish-speaking students in Spanish help them to learn English? If individuals were so determined to come to the United States, shouldn’t they at least make an attempt to learn the language?

Being of Asian decent yet born and raised in Orange County, I am angered at the fact that our school system puts so much effort into adjusting to other students’ needs because they cannot speak English.

Shouldn’t we all be treated equally? All that is needed to learn English is the desire to learn and the time to learn it. If they are not willing to adjust to our language, why should we adjust to theirs?

Bilingual education favors bilingual students and exists for the sole purpose of comfort for the student and the teacher. It’s time to step out of this “comfort zone” and make the attempt to try something new.

So what if this change brings discomfort? In the long run, the extra energy put in by the teacher and the greater effort from the student will pay off. The student will grow up to be a diverse individual who grew up in two different cultures and speaks the languages of both.

DAWNYI JUNG

Anaheim

* Voters in the Orange school district have left little doubt as to how they feel about the bilingual education program. Over 80% want it replaced with English immersion. I do not doubt the debate on this issue will continue, but this recent election indicates people who have scrutinized the issue decided English immersion is best for their children.

Interestingly, they also gave a vote of confidence to the conservative slate of school board trustees who ran for election on the platform that schools are to be used for teaching the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic. The public agreed that too many experimental programs have robbed our children of receiving a good education. I congratulate them on these choices and look forward to seeing student test scores improve in the near future.

J.M. O’NEIL

Newport Beach