Monday, September 22, 1997 Initiative would limit non-English
teaching POLITICS: Supporters claim bilingual education a failure;
opponents argue movement is an anti-immigrant attack
By Gregory Mena
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
The newest California voter initiative is going to cause a
political mess, no matter what language you speak.
Activists behind the ‘English for the Children’ movement plan to
erase bilingual education by June 1998. Opponents call it a
loopholed anti-immigrant attack, which would leave 1.3 million
non-fluent students out of luck.
The initiative, which has half of the signatures it needs, would
limit native language instruction to one year (with an option to
extend), and fund English instruction for parents.
Its most vocal supporters are Ron Unz, a Republican who ran
against Pete Wilson for governor and Gloria Tuchman, a veteran
Santa Ana educator.
They argue that bilingual education has a 95 percent failure
rate, as assessed by the Department of Education. They also cite
the Center for Equal Opportunity, which lists Unz as an advisor, as
a supporter.
"Bilingual education delays the learning of English," said
Tuchman. "We have had 30 years to test bilingual education. It is
time to test my theory."
She refers to "sheltered immersion," a one-year method of using
props and pictures as translators for the non-fluent students.
Tuchman believes her technique can effectively replace bilingual
programs.
Others disagree.
"Essentially, it places every five- to nine-year-old in an
English immersion program and it takes away parental choice," said
Silvia Argueta, an attorney for the Mexican American Legal Defense
and Education Fund. "Parents would have to petition the school
principal and sit through an explanation. But in the end the
principal would make the decision," Argueta said.
Given California’s recent political history, some say that the
initiative plays on fears of an increased Latino population.
"It is another attack on Latino immigrants," Argueta said,
noting that the most bilingual programs are in Spanish. "Instead of
saying that they fear Latino immigrants, they are saying that they
fear them because they speak Spanish."
Convinced that English instruction is "the order of the day,"
Tuchman has flaunted her accolades to bring people to her side,
including a 1988 award from the League of United Latin American
Citizens (LULAC).
However, LULAC has maintained its stance in favor of bilingual
programs and distanced itself from Tuchman. "(Gloria Tuchman) has
never been a LULAC member," said member Susie Flores.