Testing Students in English

Re “District Plans Legal Challenge to Tests in English” (Feb. 18), I’d like to ask a question. Whose money are they going to use to wage this legal battle? Are Los Angeles Unified School District Supt. Ruben Zacarias, school board member Jeff Horton or principal Jose Velasquez going to contribute portions of their salaries to overturn this mandate?

What’s wrong with giving tests in English only? Last time I looked at a map, Los Angeles was still part of the United States. I could not imagine moving to a foreign country, such as Mexico or El Salvador, and expecting to be taught in English only. Fire up the furnaces of Prop. 187. This blunder in bureaucracy is a good example of why illegal immigration must be stopped.

RONALD CRUZ

Sylmar

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May I suggest a solution to the latest furor over testing of Spanish-speaking school children, especially elementary school children? Why not test them for their knowledge of all subjects except the English language by providing a side-by-side translated (into Spanish) version of the questions which are posed in English? That way if they have a difficulty in understanding the question they will just look it up in Spanish. Their English language skills could be tested by not providing the translation for the language skills section. To all adults I ask, would you care to take the same test in Spanish if you didn’t know the language?

As a native of India, I grew up learning three languages simultaneously. I find this bias for English very narrow-minded. Everyone is enriched by learning a second language. We should all strive to learn Spanish; then we could appreciate the difficulty the children face.

MONALI KHANDAGLE

Van Nuys

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I read about the school board’s suing to prevent testing all students in English. I hope the board has a plan to make sure the real test, the one life in America gives them after they get out of public schools, is also changed.

JOSEPH AREEDA

Los Angeles