Ron Unz and 227
What does it say about our system when a wealthy businessman can galvanize support on an emotional issue that is supposed to radically alter a core part of our children’s education? Never mind that the businessman’s information flew in the face of relevant research accepted by linguists, people who study aspects of language for a living, and educators. The evidence points to Ron Unz, a layman, leading a charge to wreak absurd havoc on our system.
Amazingly, the system and we will allow this. Could we let this happen in other arenas of our community? Could a fervent millionaire launch a proposition and get it passed in the area of public safety, say, radically changing the way firefighters respond to emergencies, despite the protests of knowledgeable experts in that field? Perhaps. Maybe it’s time to consider protecting the well-being of the community from further ill-informed, knee-jerk reactions that bear heavy consequences.
DOUGLAS LIGHTFOOT
Whittier
* Is it any wonder there is apathy toward our election process? Prop. 227 is just the latest in a long line of measures where the vast majority of people spoke by ballot, but one day later a handful of disgruntled individuals can file a lawsuit and hold up the will of the people for years in court.
It’s ludicrous for me to tell my kids “your vote matters,” when, in reality, mine and a million others really don’t mean anything in the end. Whatever happened to “a government by the people”?
MICHAEL GLEASON
Tarzana
* I am a Mexican American, L.A. native who is now living in the Washington area. I have carefully followed the debate on Prop. 227. It is shocking to me that teachers, who expect students to submit to a multitude of school rules, would be speaking of trying to subvert the new bilingual education law through “civil disobedience.” This attitude is particularly outrageous when considering that they are directly influencing immigrant children, who are to be educated to know and respect the laws of their chosen country.
The opponents of 227 had their arguments heard before the voters and they lost. They should be organizing to make sure that they can implement the plan. Instead, they are acting in ways that will guarantee chaos when the next school year starts to the detriment of their students. As an attorney, I can say that the 227 dissenters will lose in court. But the real loss will be to the students in their care who will be given the message, “If you don’t like it, don’t do it.”
ANTHONY SANCHEZ
Alexandria, Va.
* As Rod Serling would say, a simple proposition for your consideration: If we had to put Prop. 227 on the ballot because bilingual education “was failing” the students, will we be faced with voting to get rid of math, history, geography, et al. in the coming elections? The “studies” all show that most public education in these subjects and more is “failing” with nearly the same statistical profile as was used to condemn bilingual programs in California.
It’s looking like the TV-inspired criteria of “throw it out if it’s got bad ratings” could leave us with only recess, a perennial favorite of both students and legislators.
MIKI JACKSON
Los Angeles
