Bilingual Education and Prop. 227

Re “Take High Road in Bilingual Debate,” Commentary, Feb. 15:

Unlike Frank del Olmo, who is unwilling to take a stand, I am against Proposition 227. The initiative is based on unsound theory and research. One year of English language instruction will not suffice for deep comprehension and understanding, let alone communication at an enriched level.

Furthermore, Proposition 227 proposes a one-size-fits-all remedy. Instead, districts should have local control. The needs and resources of a community vary and should be considered before any type of bilingual program is implemented. Bilingual education does work. It ensures that children learn English while increasing their cognitive abilities. Mr. Del Olmo, let me help you decide. Vote no on Proposition 227.

NELLIE RIOS-PARRA

Los Angeles

* The “high road” would be to stop trying to link Proposition 187 with Proposition 227. There is no connection.

The people behind Proposition 227 are not mean-spirited people with hidden agendas. The issue is educational. It is not political. Proposition 227 would give every immigrant child in California a chance to learn English in our public schools--a chance that has been denied to too many of them for 24 years.

ANGIE PAPADAKIS

Rancho Palos Verdes

* Del Olmo’s appeal to exclude race and ethnicity from the coming Proposition 227 debate made me chuckle. Surely, he must remember that when Proposition 187 was originally proposed, the issue was the rights of illegal immigrants vs. citizens and legal immigrants. But the political left knew that illegal immigration was indefensible and thus redefined the issue as racial and ethnic. They accomplished this with the eager support of The Times, which disgraced itself with its obvious bias.

To this day, Times writers use “anti-immigrant” instead of “anti-illegal immigrant” when discussing the issue--as if the distinction means nothing. Curiously, 45% of Latino voters saw through the race-baiting bunk and voted for Proposition 187. They understood that we are citizens first and members of ethnic groups second. It’s a lesson Times editors should learn before they preach to the rest of us.

JIM BASS

Thousand Oaks