In 1997, California voters passed Prop. 227 to essentially end bilingual education and require English "immersion" for non-English speaking students. Opposition was largely based on the R word....anyone who advocated passage was obviously a dangerous racist intent on destroying Mexican culture and hindering the education of immigrants.

My question at the time was: Why am I a racist for wanting to preserve the English-language heritage in America, while an illegal immigrant from Mexico is somehow justified in rejecting English in favor of his/her cultural link to Spanish?

By the way, leftists warned that Prop 227 would destroy young immigrant students: Lower test scores and lifetime emotional scars were among the dire consequences forecast.

Educators who specialized in bilingual were adamant in opposition---primarily because they were paid more!

So what happened? Prop 227 passed overwhelmingly and a number of studies have confirmed it to be a huge academic success. Test scores have not plummeted, but have actually improved! Mass suicides have not taken place in the immigrant community.


English immersion works. Opposing it is racist!



JOHN W LILLPOP
San Jose Ca