Santa Ana’s Dual-Immersion Classes Draw Praise, Skepticism

Re “Dual-Immersion Is a Success in Santa Ana, Educators Say,” July 13:

It was interesting to learn about the successful nature of this bilingual program in Santa Ana’s schools. Usually, media reports about bilingual education focus solely on the political positions of those defending or opposing the programs in question. What really matters is whether these programs help children learn English and progress academically. It was refreshing to read an article that kept its eyes on the prize. It seems that these dual-immersion programs are helping children, and I commend the Santa Ana schools’ leadership for recognizing this and expanding the program. Let’s hope we are mature enough as a civil society not to fall again into the trap of political demagoguery around this issue.

Joe Wainio

Chula Vista

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The article touts and endorses Luz Martinez’s method for teaching English by dual-immersion. The key word that fails the public is “dual.” Our society is a multiple society, not just English and Spanish. Our schools are made up of Asian, Middle Eastern and European children. Why is it necessary for them to be taught Spanish and English as a primary language? This makes no sense.

Too many of our standards have been compromised for the Hispanics, keeping them downtrodden, ignorant and constantly needy. Dual-immersion is wasting time and energy on youth that are eager to learn. The international language is English. We must not center our teaching for one nationality, when we can benefit children from all nationalities to a higher standard.

The undocumented (illegal) immigrants have come to the United States not speaking Spanish well and do not understand English. This is why they are kept in menial jobs.

The only way for them to develop, grow and advance in this English-speaking world is to learn how to read and speak English well.

No one objects to learning a second language, whether it be Spanish, French, German or Greek, but trying to perfect two languages at once is like trying to listen to two radio shows at once. I do believe you will miss something.

Rather than push the Spanish language at this time, teachers would do well to concentrate on teaching our children to read, write and speak using good grammar, which is pathetically lacking among our youth today.

Henry T. Kaim

Santa Ana

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This program smacks of the same flaws that Spanish-only instruction did.

If this program is so successful (and the statistics used to validate this argument are questionable, according to Tillie Arias), why are students in the program for six years still receiving their science and literature instruction in Spanish? How many more years are needed before they’ll be able to receive instruction in English? Is dual-immersion the goal, or should the goal be for these students to master the material in English so they can eventually pass the high school exit exam? If the latter is the goal, then it is imperative that after six years in the dual-immersion program they receive full English instruction in all content areas.

Linda Pierson

Anaheim Hills