http://www.newsobserver.com/114/story/489779.html

Triangle Politics: Published: Sep 23, 2006 12:30 AM
Modified: Sep 23, 2006 07:58 AM


Spanish class has close call

Raleigh City Council member Tommy Craven said the city should be teaching new immigrants English, not how to improve their Spanish.
So, at Tuesday's council meeting he voted against a program to improve Spanish literacy at a city community center.

City officials say many students in the city's English as a Second Language programs are illiterate in their own language, making it hard for them to learn a new one. But the free program also would be open to anybody, regardless of their nationality or native language. They could include English speakers seeking to bone up on Spanish.

As proposed, the city would provide classroom space at the Method Road Community Center. Wake Technical Community College and the Mexican Consulate in Raleigh would pay for upgrades to the space and equipment, including computers, with grants. The computers would be available for other city programs when literacy classes aren't in session.

Craven wondered what the cost to the city would be. Jack Duncan, the city's parks and recreation director, said it would cost $25 to $35 an hour to rent the classroom space.

"I would far prefer we teach them bad English than better Spanish," Craven said. But he was the lone naysayer. The council voted 7-1 for the program.