http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/15281867.htm

Posted on Tue, Aug. 15, 2006



Schwarzenegger says he opposes bilingual textbook bill

By JULIET WILLIAMS
Associated Press

SACRAMENTO - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said he believes full immersion is the best approach to teaching English and will not support a Senate bill that would force the state Board of Education to approve bilingual textbooks in California classrooms.

``I learned English by immersion, and believe in my heart that full immersion is the best method of teaching language that exists,'' he wrote this week to Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland.

The letter, obtained today by The Associated Press, is in response to a bill by Sen. Martha Escutia, D-Whittier, which would require the board to approve bilingual textbooks.

The bill also would restore the state board's $1.6 million annual budget. The money was stripped from this year's state budget as political retaliation for the board's split vote in April not to allow alternative textbooks for English-learner students.

That vote angered the Democratic Latino Caucus, many of whose members supported the textbook proposal. Democrats on the Assembly and Senate education subcommittees, led by Escutia, stripped the board's funding for the new fiscal year, which began July 1.

The board's members had expected Schwarzenegger to work out a deal to restore the money before he signed the budget. The loss prompted board president Glee Johnson to resign in frustration.

Schwarzenegger said in his letter that he wants to see the board's funding restored but won't sign legislation segregating English learners.

``I cannot ... endorse any effort which may lead to the creation of separate curricula and textbooks that will isolate students within our public schools,'' Schwarzenegger wrote.

Alicia Trost, spokeswoman for Perata, said the senator had been tied up in negotiations for redistricting legislation since Monday and had not yet had an opportunity to review the letter.

The bill is before the Senate Appropriations Committee.