Students, teachers bear brunt of ruling

COURT DECISION: Proposition 227 creates enormous challenge for educators.

When a federal judge in San Francisco ruled Wednesday that educators across the state are required to move forward with the mandates of Proposition 227, the voter-approved ban on bilingual education, limited English-speaking students suffered a serious setback.

However, since it now appears unlikely that the courts will be able to halt this initiative — barring a reversal by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals — it is critical that Ventura County educators take the necessary steps to prepare new curriculum and inform parents of their options.

That won’t be an easy assignment, especially as the new law goes into effect next month for year-round schools and in the fall for the rest.

Proposition 227, which was written by former gubernatorial candidate and Orange County software millionaire Ron Unz, dramatically changes how students are taught in California.

In effect, the initiative says that students who speak no English, or limited English, can be taught in a bilingual-classroom environment for a maximum of one year before being taught in an English-only setting.

Most educators have argued that one year is not enough to learn to think critically in another language and that non-English-speaking students need to learn academic subjects in their native language so they don’t fall behind.

But, as is often the case with controversial issues, experts on both sides — and let’s not forget the Assembly and Gov. Pete Wilson — failed miserably in acting, or drafting thoughtful legislation on bilingual education, in time to block a vague, poorly written initiative.

Some Ventura County districts with few minority students won’t feel much effect from Proposition 227. But other districts — particularly those in Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Moorpark, Santa Paula, Somis and Fillmore — will.

And we empathize with those such as Yolanda Benitez, superintendent of the Rio School District in Oxnard, who said following Wednesday’s ruling, “We will be changing how we educate children for political, rather than educational, reasons. Politicians need to leave education for educators.”

While many other local educators share that sentiment, all must now do what’s necessary for our children and prepare for the reality that Proposition 227 is likely here to stay.



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