Unz says LAUSD misusing recess

District denies bilingual education problem

Shocked that some Spanish-speaking students are sent outside to play rather than to class to learn English, the man leading a statewide ballot initiative to dismantle bilingual education called for the resignation of the head of Los Angeles school instruction.

“Latinos pay taxes just like everyone else, and their children deserve more than just half an education in the public schools,” Ron Unz said during a news conference Tuesday at Los Angeles Unified School District headquarters.

“LAUSD shouldn’t treat Latino kids as ‘free-range’ children,’ ” said Unz, a Silicon Valley businessman and head of the English for the Children Campaign, which would virtually dismantle bilingual programs.

By law, schools are required to ensure that bilingual students spend part of their day with English-speaking students—a practice known as mixing.

The goal is to help children hone their English skills and ensure that their education is not segregated.

But the Daily News reported Dec. 21 that teachers, parents and union officials have found that these children are often given an extended recess, rather than mixing during structured lessons.

When confronted with the criticism, the district’s interim assistant superintendent, Carmen Schroeder, said that the extended playtime was happening at some schools—although she didn’t know how many.

“That has happened—I agree it’s a waste of time. It’s a big institution. Some schools are not following the rules as they should,” she said.

After Unz’s news conference Tuesday, district officials said Schroeder’s comments had been mischaracterized.

LAUSD spokesman Brad Sales on Tuesday said Unz’s “attack” was a “cheap shot.”

Sales said there was no evidence that sending students outside to mix was a widespread problem and therefore the allegations would not be investigated.

Unz said he was stunned by the district’s reluctance to investigate how many campuses were turning mixing into playtime.

“They’re totally unwilling to change—but I guess it explains the students’ poor performance,” Unz said.

Unz’s initiative, slated for the June ballot, would stop the teaching of non-English-speaking children in their native language. Instead, students would be put into a yearlong program of “sheltered English immersion” before being transferred to traditional classrooms.

Later Tuesday, Becki Robinson, elementary vice president of United Teachers Los Angeles, was among those who said in interviews that they have witnessed severe problems with LAUSD mixing.

Robinson said for years she’s heard concerns from teachers about the mixing period, and she believes a school-by-school examination is necessary.

Instructors who have no background in teaching English as a second language are expected to do so daily. Because of that, Robinson said, the program “breaks down.”

“We need to make sure we’re meeting the needs of the children, and that teachers are being trained.” Robinson said.

In August, a concerned teacher sent a letter to Superintendent Ruben Zacarias after viewing children aimlessly at play at three elementary schools. Teachers confirmed the practice, but did not want their names used because they feared retaliation.



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