Bilingual Education

Re “Word Getting Out on Bilingual Class Waivers,” Oct. 8.

Not six months ago, Ron Unz was very effective in saying that children were in bilingual education against their parents’ will. For many it may have seemed natural to not willfully want a child in this “failing” program. The Latino community, like all other segments of society, was said to support this proposition.

Unz repeatedly tried to show compassion by saying that a waiver would protect the will of the few parents who wanted their children in a bilingual program. Spokesperson Jaime Escalante argued the point of parental choice by saying that Proposition 227 “doesn’t eliminate choice or impose a single approach. California’s schools are forced to use bilingual education despite parental opposition. We give choice to parents, not administrators.”

Today we are being told that English for the Children always expected that only 1% to 2% of the parents would want to waiver their children into this “failing” program. Was English for the Children’s research so off that they didn’t expect the current demand of waivers by parents of immigrant children?

Did the 63% Latino vote against Proposition 227 reflect all the Latinos who were affected by this bad law? Only the parents of students who were in bilingual educational programs know this answer.

This law will be repealed in our democratic government’s judicial branch. Yes, a majority vote of blind force must yield to blind reason! Any popular law must follow basic democratic principles, which are upheld by our court system. Once again, students will be able to learn academics while they are learning academic-quality English.

In the meantime, this student will be able to stand and recite with pride and conviction: “Una nacion, bajo Dios, indivisible, con libertad y justicia para todos.”

DENIS O’LEARY

President

Ventura County chapter, California Assn. for Bilingual Education

Ventura