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CONTACT: SHERI ANNIS
January 6, 1997. Los Angeles, CA---The "English for the Children" initiative campaign called for the immediate resignation of LAUSD Assistant Superintendent Carmen Schroeder and for LAUSD to replace its practice of a "three hour playground recess" for bilingual education students with three hours of daily English instruction. A recent investigation found that many LAUSD elementary schools regularly have Spanish-speaking students spend their afternoons on the playground with English-speaking students rather than being taught any academic subjects, a practice also known as "mixing." Schroeder, under whose direction the system was maintained, admitted that spending three hours each day at recess is "a waste of time" for Latino students, but said that there were no plans to change the practice. Latino students in LAUSD currently have among the highest dropout rates, lowest test scores, and lowest rates of admission to universities. LAUSD recently promoted Schroeder to direct all instructional services. Ron Unz, Chairman of the "English for the Children" campaign, said that he fully understands the outrage which Latino parents feel over the policy. "Latinos pay taxes just like everyone else, and their children deserve more than just half an education in the public schools. LAUSD shouldn't treat Latino kids as 'free-range children.'" On December 23, 1997 the Secretary of State announced official qualification for the June 2, 1998 ballot of the "English for the Children" initiative to dismantle the current system of "bilingual education" in California. For more information about the initiative, contact Sheri Annis at 1-213-627-2913. The new campaign headquarters is located at 315 West 9th St., Los Angeles, CA 90015. |