English vs. Spanish: A Question of Racism?
In a rare show of wisdom several years ago, California voters passed Proposition 227 to abolish most forms of bilingual education. The premise was simple: When English is not spoken in the home, youngsters are at a decided disadvantage, and must, therefore, receive intensive English instruction elsewhere.
Coddling non-English speaking youngsters with bilingual instruction at school was correctly seen as counterproductive.
Unfortunately, some Hispanic educators refuse to abide by the law and continue to teach in Spanish. One such so-called educator was recently recognized as “Teacher of the Year†by a San Diego school district. Pancho, which is not his real name, proclaimed it his duty to instruct Hispanics in their native tongue, and hailed this defiance of state law as a major macho accomplishment.
Were it not for the fact that California’s educational system is so infested with liberals, Pancho would have been fired and his teaching credentials permanently revoked.
By refusing to expose his students to the language needed to succeed in America, Pancho should be arrested and charged with child endangerment/abuse.
As an educator, Pancho should know that California now requires students to pass a test in order to graduate from high School. One of the test subjects: English proficiency.
Do you get that, Pancho? English, not Spanish, is a requirement for high school graduation in California. The state does not test for Spanish proficiency because English is the predominate language in California and throughout America.
Pancho probably considers those who want English to be the official American language to be “racist.” However, I am sure he does not see himself as being racist for preferring Spanish to English.
In fact, Pancho most likely believes that his defiance of state law is perfectly justified because bilingual education means diversity—and everyone knows diversity is enriching and good.
California parents, please remember this: English proficiency is required to graduate high school. Spanish proficiency is required to pick fruit and
operate leaf blowers. Which future do you want for your child?
John Lillpop is a recovering liberal, "clean and sober" since 1992 when last he voted for a Democrat. Pray for John: He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, where people like Nancy Pelosi are considered reasonable! | More from John Lillpop
Stumble It!
August 27th, 2006 at 6:30 pm
I hear people clamouring for two languages to be taught and that Americans are closed minded since we have an aversion for learning a second language.
I can see people pushing for bilingual education to broaden our horizons. However, which second language should we choose? Spanish? Then what about the people who speak Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Hindi, Italian, German, French, Russian, ect. Would it not be wrong to force students to learn Spanish when they may be familiar with another language.
Or god forbid a student that doesn’t speak Spanish has to go to Mr. Pancho’s classes and now can’t understand the material since it is being presented in a foriegn language than his previous school.
August 27th, 2006 at 6:45 pm
“I hear people clamouring for two languages to be taught and that Americans are closed minded since we have an aversion for learning a second language”
My major beef is with people who come here and refuse to learn English. If Spanish and Mexico are so great, then go home!
August 27th, 2006 at 9:21 pm
This remember me all the joke Canadians and Americans have done in the past about Quebec’s linguistic laws and the “Language Police”. Many laughed or called us racists when we put these laws in The province of Quebec, asking to the people of using French first instead of English. Now, more that 30 years later, French is still strong here.
Here’s a interesting link about our linguistic laws:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charter_of_the_French_Language
Maybe it’s what the U.S. of A. need…
August 28th, 2006 at 4:36 am
We need a law about using French first? Like the dems need help in surrendering.
August 28th, 2006 at 6:22 am
Squiggy, I guess you got me wrong. Here, in the Province of Quebec, the french-speaking population is the majority. That law exist only to protect that fact.
What I thought was a simmilar law for the States that definite English as the main language.
August 29th, 2006 at 5:04 am
Toubrouk, it was a joke. Sorry for any insult. I guess I was so busy being clever that I wasn’t intelligent.
August 29th, 2006 at 5:40 am
No offense, Squiggy, it came to me as a misundertanding. It’s difficult sometimes to express ourself with a couple of written lines so I take everything posted here with a grain of salt.