Proposition in Arizona to end bilingual teaching seen passing Andrea Billups
A ballot measure to end bilingual education in Arizona appears headed for passage as polls show growing support for the plan. A survey conducted jointly by Arizona State University and a public-television station in mid-September found that 71 percent of voters supported Proposition 203, with 20 percent opposed and 9 percent undecided. Another poll conducted in mid-September by the Arizona Republic newspaper found 74 percent of voters support the measure, which was modeled on a California law that ended bilingual-education programs in the state when it was approved by voters two years ago. If passed in Arizona, Proposition 203 would require the state's public schools to teach only in English. Those students who lack the proper language skills would be placed in a yearlong intensive English-immersion program to help them become fluent. The drive to end bilingual instruction has been led by English for the Children of Arizona, a grass-roots group that has been funded through contributions from Ron Unz, a wealthy Silicon Valley entrepreneur who spearheaded the English-only ballot measure in California. An outspoken critic of bilingual education, Mr. Unz is optimistic about the ballot measure's passage, but says he does not want to be overly confident. "The trend lines look good," said Mr. Unz of polls showing growing bipartisan support for his campaign. Among those opposed to Proposition 203 are the state's bilingual educators, who say there is no strong research to suggest that English-only education helps children learn the language faster. If anything, says Arizona State University professor Jeff MacSwan, the one year of intensive English immersion that is a part of the November ballot measure is far too little time for non-English speaking students to gain adequate skills. Research, he adds, has shown that children take three to five years to learn enough English to understand lessons taught in English. "Scientific studies on this question show that children actually learn English faster in bilingual-education programs," said Mr. MacSwan, a professor of education who thinks the strong voter support is due to their lack of understanding about how bilingual instruction works. Statistics from the Arizona Department of Education show that children in bilingual education "outscore children in English immersion at every grade level every time data has been collected," he said. While the English-only ballot measure is aimed mostly at Hispanic children, in the past couple of weeks it has come under fire by Arizona's Indian tribes. Four of those, including the Navajo Nation, have passed resolutions condemning the plan. Hundreds of Indians turned out to protest in Phoenix Friday, marching from downtown to the state Capitol. Across Arizona, there are 17 distinct tribal languages spoken, and an estimated 19,000 Navajo children alone could be affected by Proposition 203, tribal officials said. Because some Arizona public schools teach classes in tribal languages as a way to preserve their heritage, the Indians fear instruction only in English will mean a loss of their cultural identity. Some have called the plan "racist." Mr. MacSwan said the ballot measure would allow parents of some children with special needs to request a waiver from the English-immersion program, but teachers and school districts could reject those requests without explanation. Mr. Unz, however, said the English-only measure would not apply to Indian children. "I think what's happened is the bilingual side has stirred up that controversy to sort of broaden their base" and cause confusion, said Mr. Unz, who was visiting Washington Friday. |