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Thursday, December 3, 1998.

Phoenix---Separate statewide surveys by two leading Arizona pollsters have each shown huge margins of support for a proposed initiative to dismantle Arizona’s system of "bilingual education" by requiring all public school instruction to be conducted in English.

In early October, the Behavior Research Institute conducted a poll of 720 Arizona residents which found 70% support for such a measure and just 22% opposition; both Republicans and Democrats backed the proposal by more than 2-1. In mid-October, Arizona Opinion conducted a separate poll of 600 likely voters, finding support at 72% and opposition at 20%, with Democrats favoring the measure by better than 2-1 and Republican support running at a ratio of nearly 8-1.

The proposed ballot initiative would require that children not proficient in English be placed in a special intensive "sheltered English immersion" program to teach the language as rapidly as possible, instead of being taught for years in their native language as is now the case. California voters recently passed a similar statewide initiative by landslide margins, and that victory inspired Arizona activists to consider mounting their own effort along similar lines. Arizona’s own bilingual program has recently attracted considerable controversy when it was revealed that over than 97% of students each year fail to learn enough English to be moved to mainstream classes.

Maria Mendoza, statewide Chair of "English for the Children of Arizona," the group behind the proposed law, expressed satisfaction with the poll results. "The polls prove that the people of Arizona recognize that children must be taught English as soon as they start school if they are to have a bright future in our society. All immigrants know that English is the language of opportunity and economic success. We hope that the politicians will listen to the voice of the people and support our initiative."

"English for the Children of Arizona" plans to file its initiative with the Arizona Secretary of State within the next week and begin gathering signatures shortly thereafter. If it qualifies, the initiative would be placed on the next election ballot.