No on 203: Don't eliminate parental choice Editorial
It seems like a noble undertaking: Require Arizona children who don't speak English fluently to learn it as quickly as possible so they can be assimilated into the mainstream of American life. And supporters of Proposition 203 hope voters will probe no deeper into the measure before next month's general election. But take a look at the details of the proposition and it immediately becomes apparent that this is a hateful, divisive initiative designed to force all children to be taught the same way - regardless of the needs of individual children, the professional opinions of educators or the wishes of parents. If passed by voters, the proposition would repeal bilingual education laws and require that all classes be taught in English. Pupils not fluent in English would be given one year to learn the language - a year during which they also would be expected to learn other subjects and keep up with their English-speaking peers. Fix bilingual education, don't eliminate it There is no doubt that there are serious problems with Arizona's bilingual education system. Students can languish in the programs for years, never becoming proficient enough in English to move into regular classes. There have been attempts in the Legislature to put a limit on how long students can be in bilingual education classes. Three years has been seen as a reasonable period. But those efforts have failed. Nonetheless, Proposition 203's approach - to force all children to learn English in only one year - is not the answer. This is not a new idea. It is a throwback to a way of teaching that has been tried and rejected. From 1917 to 1967, the Tucson Unified School District had a virtually identical "learn-it-quick-or- else" program. More than 60 percent of Hispanic students dropped out of school. Under current bilingual education programs, which would be banned by Proposition 203, the Hispanic dropout rate is 17 percent. And only 6 percent of Hispanic students in bilingual programs drop out. Proposition would eliminate parents' choice Parents who do not want their children taught in bilingual education classes can now opt out. But the initiative would forbid more than one year of bilingual instruction unless a parent wrote a 250-word statement explaining what "special needs" the child has that require more time. Schools could accept or reject the request "without explanation or legal consequence." Why should parents be denied the opportunity to place their children in any legitimate education program they wish? Teachers would also be prohibited from using their professional judgment in deciding how best to teach individual students. Arizonans did not ask for this polarizing measure to be placed on the ballot. It is on only because a California multimillionaire got a similar measure passed in California. Thus emboldened, he came to Arizona, wrote a more restrictive initiative and has spent more than $130,000 to tell us how to teach our children. He is the only person who has contributed money to the passage of Proposition 203. Bilingual education should be improved, not junked. Arizona does not need this divisive measure cleaving our state. The Citizen strongly urges a "No" vote on Proposition 203. |