Speaks Out

Published: Monday, March 8, 1999

Site Sponsor:

Speaks Out

Monday, March 8, 1999

Following California's lead with Proposition 227, Arizona is now considering an initiative to curtail bilingual education. Where do you stand on the issue of bilingual education?

"I think bilingual education is a good idea to help different ethnic groups understand their roots, culture and language. At the same time, they need to assimilate into American society. Perhaps history could be taught in their own language to better learn about other cultures, but especially their own culture, in their own language. Others, like math, can be in English."

Thinh Nguyen

Graduate student

Physiological science

"I'm for bilingual education. The classroom serves as a springboard to learn English. I think a big misconception is that when you're teaching students in their own language, they're not ever going to learn English. But if you live in America, no matter what if you just watch TV you're going to learn English."

Katherine Carrido

Fourth-year

American literature and culture

"I think school districts have to keep it because of the populations that schools serve. They have to keep something. I would not want to see kids not supported in schools, in terms of language acquisition and development. I'm not a Californian I'm from Michigan. But, when I heard about 227, I just thought, ŒWhat are Californians thinking?'"

Renee Moreno

Post-doctoral student

English and education

"I'm an Arizona resident, so I'm familiar with the Arizona bill. Like 227, it exists at two different levels: political symbolism and educational policy. Politically, both measures tell Latinos that, if you don't speak English, you're not a full citizen. Educationally, it's naive that legislators believe they can actually change what happens in classrooms. Plus, legislators saying you can't teach one way when it would help a student, just isn't good policy."

John Rogers

Visiting assistant professor

School of Education

"I'd support the Arizona (proposal) because I think English is important to learn. Bilingual education is important, but English should be encouraged because bilingual education may encourage students never to learn English. That would give students a very big hardship, if they want to live in this country, where you need to learn English to survive."

Ryan Thompson

Third-year

Biology

"I'm from the East Coast where it wasn't even an issue. I don't know enough about it to have a concrete opinion yet, but I do think that maybe bilingual ed is good for the first couple of years after students come to America. I don't think it should be permanent, though, because that wouldn't help integrate students into the American culture they have to speak English."

Christina Ware

Second-year

Biochemistry

Comments, feedback, problems?