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Why is it that every time a problem arises minorities are to blame?
When the welfare system needed overhauling, due to waste and exaggerated health care costs, the minorities were first to suffer. Now with the state's failing education system, minorities have the finger pointed at them again.
It seems that the rich, high-society brotherhood is always trying to create legislative barriers in order to keep minorities and lower-economic individuals out of the inner-circle of prosperity. More and more the American dream is turning into a sham.
With so many regional dialects throughout the country it is hard to institute one as standard and proper English. Should easterners and Texans be discriminated against due to their dialects? It seems that the only reason most of them are not is because they are white and thus qualify as representing the American model. We must not forget that this nation consists of many different races and nationalities. We are all part of a giant melting pot, collectively called Americans.
It is true in jobs where one's performance depends on verbally working with a variety of people, a person should possess excellent English skills. However, in other jobs where mental capabilities are important and other non-verbal labor is performed, a person only needs to be able to sufficiently communicate in order to get the work done. If someone has slight language deficiencies, this does not underscore the individual's intelligence.
As eccentric Americans, we are quick to disqualify an individual without properly delving into his or her ideas or experiences. We are quick to assume that a minority is ignorant due to broken English skills. People seem to forget that these second language speakers can usually both write and communicate in two languages.
The ambition of minorities to tackle two languages is admirable. It is unfortunate that a greater number of Americans do not strive to possess skills in more than one language.
In order for students to intellectually advance and feel apart of the American society, we need to keep bilingual education alive in the school districts. This way a child can gain expertise in his or her first and second language.
It is true that bilingual education was failing. But according to the California Teachers Association it was not due to a problem with the theory or methodology, but rather a lack of support and financial assistance. School districts could not raise the funds needed to get qualified teachers in the classrooms.
The blame for our failing social systems should not be placed on minorities, but rather on bureaucratic waste and corruption. The government can call these proposed propositions what they want, but no matter how it is packaged it ends up spelling one thing-racism.
David Felton is City Editor of Summer Forty-Niner.
Proposition 227, the English Language in Public School initiative, has created controversy among many. Those who were in favor of it won. Now, it is law.
It is precisely due to it becoming a law that has caused new controversy, especially among high school students.
Just last week, there were students from Belmont High School walking out of class into the streets to protest the new law. Not only has Belmont students protested the new law, so have students from other schools.
I wonder whether their participation is due to informed opposition or an opportunity to skip class. Whatever their motives, Proposition 227 is now law.
This is a good law for California students and will only help in securing their future. What these students need to understand is that if they live where the main language is English then they need to know it.
If these very students are going to be members of society they need to adopt the language. If they already know Spanish, which is their native language, then they need to be taught in English in order to succeed in this world. Their actions makes no sense. They are denying themselves the opportunity to get ahead.
Besides, they need to think about what their future will be like if they only know Spanish. If they plan to live in this society and expect to become successful individuals, the way to achieve this is through learning to speak, read and write English.
This is what people need to understand. Being taught in Spanish won't do them any good if they need English for everything else. They should be glad that they will be given the opportunity to learn English. They should feel privileged that they will be learning a second language. But I guess they don't see it this way. The more languages you know, the greater your chances are of becoming successful individuals.
These students need to realize that protesting will not get them anywhere. All that will potentially happen is getting arrested. They need to accept Proposition 227 since it has become a law. I think it is definitely the better choice for everyone.
Alicia Salazar is Assistant City Editor of Summer Forty-Niner.