The Major Issues and Conflicts on Bilingual Education

Bilingual education was first initiated in 1968. It was a new mode to educate the children who spoke a minority language. thirty-one years later the same problems exist for those children who cover a language other in that locationfore slope. The experiment of Bilingual education has been a failure and flat its time to move on. The first incline wholly initiatives were brought forth in 1981 by pertly elected chairwoman Reagan. Since then the conflict over Bilingual education has drove on.Currently 23 states have English Only laws with 4 states having laws that argon pending. The issue of bilingual education and the conflict that surrounds it is in general focused between whites and Hispanics, although since the mid 70s its also been involved with the Chinese and green gram cultures. Bilingual education has failed however, currently the movement is towards and English lone(prenominal)(prenominal) educational system. The simple fact of the involvement is that people who intercommunicate a language in this country leave alone never go bad ahead.Weve tried the ignorant nonion that you could get by with come forth utterance English or speaking English precise minimally, exactly thats promoting and even more ignorant idea which is that you dont need speak English fluently to succeed in America. In 1968 we didnt k right(a) off that Bilingual Education wouldnt work, however, its time to move on and do the right thing and switch to English Only. Lyndon Johnson was president, we had the futile dream of world peace, at the same time we were Bombing the North Vietnamese into the stone-age.In the nett year of LBJs presidency sever new education initives were taken as part of the experience step in his Great Society programs. One of these new initives was Bilingual education. At the time it was back up by the Liberal whites in this country, for the most part the conservative Hispanic sect was opposed to such measures. The idea at the time was, k ids would learn in their native language and simply pick up English gradually. Those ideas were radicalized in the 1970s however, the premise moved away from gradual learning of English to English wasnt rattling necessary.In 1981 Bilingual education came under assault from newly elected president Reagan proposed moving to the English Only system. The idea wasnt viewed as Anti-Hispanic at the time, or as rough kind of racist proposal. Reagan was adored by a majority of the Hispanic community, drawing unprecedented defend among Latino voters. The issue of bigotry wasnt brought forth until the Democrats were sent packing in Gingerich revolution of 1994. In 1999 the debate rages on a nonher 4-5 states ar preparing for an English Only law to go on the 2000 resource ballots.The assault on Bilingual Education will continue on. There have been several attempts to congeal an English Only amendment in to the constitution, all have failed. However, as public support for English only hits record highs an amendment maybe inevitable. The latest of the states to abolish Bilingual education was the state of California not precisely a conservative state by any means. The controversial Prop 227 was progressed by a importantly wide margin 61% to 39%.Prop. 227 was headed by Millionaire computer executive Ron Unz himself the son of immigrant parents. During the battle to pass Prop 227 Unz was songed everything from a sell out to a White supremacist. The surrounding Bilingual education is now fueled by a Hispanic minority that refuse to adapt to American culture. They refuse to discipline the facts, Americans who do not speak English fluently have a poverty rate well 25% higher then Americans who speak fluent English.Their arguments are unsubstanciated, English only laws are not racist in nature. Theyre attempting to create better equality a theory that you simply cannot call racist. By making children of parents who speak a minority language speak English, the people who are really benefiting are the children. By allowing children to think its perfectly ok to use their native languages in our connection is promoting ignorance and poverty. American is run in English, twenty-four states publish all their information in nothing but English.To say that speaking another language and knowing very little English will get you anywhere in this country is stupid. Diversity is wonderful, however, it belongs in homes and not in our schools. American culture is speaking English and only English. America was formed on certain principals lad out with certain fundamental frequency underlying assumptions, it always wasnt possible for everyone to speak English, but the concept was that this is America and we speak English here. There are basically five arguments coming from opponents of English only education.They say it ignores our countries civil rights usance it fails to promote the integration of minority citizens into the American mainstream it neglects th e need for American merchants to be able to communicate with opposed markets it restricts the ability of the government to be able to reach all its citizens as well as it raises fundamental concerns. The main supporters economically of Bilingual Education are the educators. The NEA and various other education groups spent tight twice as much money trying to defeat Prop 227 in California then the groups supporting the initive spent.Why would they do this? Its simple, MONEY, Bilingual education creates jobs for teachers and valued funding, no matter how right something is, teachers simply dont turn against teachers. The thousands of positions bilingual education has created are now being eliminated. The only way they can preserve these jobs is by claiming that English only legislation is racially motivated and instills antagonism towards minority groups who use another language other then English.Im firmly in favor of English only. First, Bilingual education does not ignore our c ountries civil rights customs. Its simply stating that if you insufficiency to be ignorant, live in poverty, collect welfare and detract from society, thats fine but you will do it on our terms. To say America also has a civil rights tradition is also questionable. Is this not the country where slavery was permitted for 300 years, where women couldnt vote, and where abortions are readily available.Peoples civil rights are being infringed on all the time, from a black slave to an unborn baby, there is no tradition of great civil rights in America. The second argument, it fails to provide integration of minority citizens into the mainstream is ridiculous. Whats more mainstream American a new Chinese immigrant speaking Chinese or one speaking English? The apprehension that allowing someone to speak a native language, is bringing them in to the mainstream is insane.Third, it doesnt neglect the American Government from reaching its citizens. This is AMERICA were associated with Englis h, we speak English, Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence in English, our laws are passed in English. Maybe if you cant speak our language you dont belong in our country. Its also not the Governments duty to reach out to the citizens, people are suppose to be self reliant, we dont want the Government to reach into our lives. Thats why we had that little revolution against King George.If you really need the Governments assistance you should reach out to them, something that would be pretty hard if you dont speak English. Fourth, it does not neglect the ability of merchants to move with foreign markets. We were dealing with foreigners a long time before Bilingual education and we will be doing so a long time after its elimination. Translators Now thats a frightful idea, more practical then allowing 300 languages to exist. Its also cheaper. Finally, our Constitution is written in English and since 1908 printed exclusively in English by the United States Government.T eddy Roosevelt said in 1908 that To print the American Constitution in any other language but English, would be like spitting in the face of our forefathers. The Untied States Supreme Court has also ruled numerous times that English only laws do not violate the 1st amendment of our Constitution. I personally believe that in our nation there needs to be a main language, not 3 or 4 or 1200. George cap wasnt giving orders at Valley Forge in Russian he was speaking English. Abe capital of Nebraska didnt give the Gettysburgh Address in Portuguese.Its not to much to ask for every American citizen to be able to speak English fluently. No one is forced to live here, and if you refuse to adapt you probably shouldnt be living here. If you want to speak German by all means go ahead and do so, but do it back in Germany. While youre in America however, we speak English, and if you dont know it youre in trouble. The conflict is over rated. Its not a matter of racism or of any other kind of hatre d. Its a simple matter of principle. Americans speak English its not to much to ask.