Bilingual Education Measure Slammed
John C. Ensslin
Opponents of a measure that would effectively end bilingual education in Colorado rallied Sunday to urge people not to support the proposed ballot initiative. As Cinco de Mayo festivities got under way across the street in Civic Center Park, about 35 people gathered on the steps of the City and County Building to protest the measure. They also spoke in support of Denver schools Superintendent Chip Zullinger and urged the school board to accept a federal grant for bilingual education training. The proposed ballot initiative would require school districts to replace bilingual education with a one-year English immersion program for non-English- speaking students. "Folks, if a one-year immersion program doesn't work, we're stuck with it if this ballot initiative goes anywhere," said Denver City Councilwoman Debbie Ortega, who organized the gathering. Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., argued that the measure mandates a one-size- fits-all approach, which will not work for all students in all districts. She recalled how her mother - a kindergarten teacher - used many learning strategies with students. Several speakers criticized Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., who has supported the initiative. "I have a message to Tom Tancredo and his lock-step cronies who believe in his radical agenda," said state Rep. Nolbert Chavez, D-Denver. "Stay out of our schools. "If you want to compromise the education of your children, fine," Chavez added. "Leave us alone." Tancredo responded after the rally that how people view this issue depends upon how they view the larger issue of education. "There are folks who will accept a certain degree of mediocrity to achieve political and cultural goals," he said. He contends that the ballot measure is aimed at keeping kids from languishing for years in bilingual classes rather than moving them into mainstream classrooms. "If you are more interested in keeping a certain segment of society segmented and impoverished, then I could understand that you would feel threatened by such an initiative," he said. |