Schools chief voices support of bilingualism

EDUCATION: Delaine Eastin tells Anaheim teachers' convention every California child should learn more than one language.

ANAHEIM, CA—Saying she was “terribly ashamed” to be a Californian who speaks only one language, newly elected state schools Superintendent Delaine Eastin told bilingual teachers Friday that she supports their educational mission.

“Bilingual education is something I will fight for as superintendent,” Eastin said.

She said she wants every California child to learn English, but she also wants the state’s English-speaking children to learn other languages.

“Let us become a multilingual state so we can sell our products all over the world,” Eastin said, speaking in a ballroom packed with many of the 6,500 delegates attending the annual convention of the California Association for Bilingual Education.

The conference concludes today at Anaheim Convention Center.

Crusading for one of her pet projects, Eastin called for greatly enhanced technology in all classrooms.

“I can’t understand why we spend so much time putting computers in jails when we don’t put them in schools,” she said.



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