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LEARN THE LANGUAGE Letter to the Editor
I'M not a member of the multimillionaire class into which Carlos Munoz Jr. (Perspective, Aug. 17) places Ron Unz, backer of an anti-bilingual education initiative. Instead, I'm a second-generation descendant of European immigrants who recognizes that Mr. Unz, independent of his wealth, understands California's current bilingual debate. My grandfathers, both proud men, sought opportunity and freedom in America. They practiced trades, developed social lives, and continued religious practices cloistered in the Polish-speaking communities and parishes of Chicago. They knew, however, that their kids needed English, not Polish, fluency to maintain and extend the socio-economic beachheads they established. Instead of demanding that public schools provide bilingual training, they looked to their church's schools for that help. And they received it. The associated costs were not trivial, but they were viewed as investments in the family's and country's future. I'm not seeing that kind of pride in many of today's immigrants. There seems to be an attitude that suggests, "I got my family here. Now teach my kids English and the three R's in their native language." Whoa! Something's wrong with this picture. I am not anti-immigrant. I truly believe that diversity via a robust immigration policy is the essence of this country's greatness. I am, however, against anyone's belief that they can forever take from this nation's educational resources. Until Congress declares this to be a multilingual nation, as is Switzerland, Munoz must work to identify sources other than California's public schools to provide his bilingual utopia. Your social goals will be more highly valued if you adopt a bilingual educational approach similar to that of my grandfathers. -- Thomas J. Mucha
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