Habla Ingles?
Bill White, former Mayor of Houston and current front-runner for the Democratic Party heading into the primary for Governor, was in Amarillo today. Education was the main topic. In doing some research I think I actually discovered what is wrong with the Texas education system, and I discovered, too that Bill White is already part of the problem, not part of the solution.
Let’s begin by looking at Bill White’s remarks today, “Now, for the first time in our state, we have a situation where the percentage of Texans aged 25 to 35 with a college degree is below that of our older population, aged 35 to 55. That’s the wrong direction if we want to compete to win.”
Okay, I’ll buy that. We need to fix it. Please continue Mayor White.
White tossed out some statistics about Texas ranking at number 49 among all states in the percentage of adults with high school diplomas, then mentioned how he had been a great leader in Houston.
Katrina was mentioned and how White led the response. All true. He did. White concluded with this one, “Too often politicians think signing a memo or giving a speech is leadership.”
Yeah!
That’s what the people want to hear.
Right?
It’s not about speeches (said during a speech) or signing a memo.
Okay, so if Bill White is so all-fired on top of things and wants to ensure Texas has the best education in the nation, why does he print his press releases in both English and Spanish? Que?
I was on White’s site, and looked at some press releases. There I saw it: tabs for “English” and “Espanol”.
Here’s the Bill White quote about speeches and leadership again,
“Demasiadas veces los políticos piensan que el liderazgo solamente consiste en firmar memorándos y dar discursos.”
Got it?
Dividing our classrooms and our schools into separate languages is one of the biggest detriments to providing our children with a proper education. Two classes, literally and figuratively, exist in our public schools.
Also, that dropout rate BW bemoans is driven primarily by the dropout rate of urban school districts like Houston. How long was he Mayor?
English should be the official language of the United States of America. I mean no offense to my friends of Mexican descent when I say this, although liberals will assert that I’ve offended everyone with Mexican heritage. The fact is most Mexican-Americans I know who live in this state feel the same way I do.
English is the official language of commerce.
English is the official language of our government from the DMV to the State Capitol.
English is the official language of higher education. Does anyone know of any major university in the United States that offers all of its courses in both Spanish and English?
Without the ability to read and speak English fluently, we are dooming students in Texas public schools to failure. Making it easier for them to avoid English is the equivalent of enslaving them in poverty.
If a child comes to school speaking only Spanish, it is generally because that is all his or her parents speak. To prevent that child from learning English at school is to prevent him or her from making progress. That child won’t learn English at home.
Make English our official language.
Stop listening to politicians who talk out of both sides of their mouth and in different languages when they do it.
Stop enabling those who refuse to learn the language.
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About John G. Winder
John G. Winder has spent 29 years in the broadcasting industry as an on-air report, General Manager and Executive in both radio & television.
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Learning only one language is truly a great divider; while knowing two or more languages helps unit everyone. Just common sense.
No where does this editorial argue against bilingual education.
In fact, it argues against NOT teaching students to be bilingual.
Historically, whenever immigrants (legal by the way)came to this country they learned ENGLISH in School.
This was true of the Italians, the Germans, the Czechs, and on and on. That is historical fact not your fantasy re-write of history.
On to today – There are schools all across our state, in Houston and in Cy-Fair ISD too, who right now are hiring teachers to teach the Spanish speaking kids in Spanish.
These kids are being segregated out of classes with the English speaking kids and are being taught in Spanish only.
Is that fair? Is that inclusive or exclusive? Does that help or hurt the child in the long run?
How will those children ever become bilingual if our public schools are not doing it, and if both their parents speak only Spanish?
Who taught you to speak your second language?
Mr. Winder is absolutely correct we need to stop enabling a perpetuation of any immigrant who comes to this country and refuses to learn the English language.
That fact is backed up by both common sense and HISTORY!!!
Sir,
Let me politely suggest that you should be educated in American History. Our country was founded on the idea that we are a melting-pot for people of all race, religion, and ethnicity. If I need to be more clear: anyone can choose to speak any language they want. Sure, people should respect American culture and learn the English language, but many people can speak more than one language and prefer the language of their ancestors. Maybe Bill White just took a little time to accommodate those that share the soil of our great state.
Could not agree more with the author.
Education must be offered in English so that children will learn the language that will give them a fighting chance. Maintain your native language and learn as many as you can, but in the United States of America it is the English language that will guarantee you more success, more results and greater reach.
Encourage your state legislators to make English the sole language when taking the driver’s license exam.
Support these initiatives by visiting my FACEBOOK page by becoming a FAN through my Blog
http://www.proenglishusa.blogspot.com
Thanks,
Eddie V Garcia