The goal should be English fluency

JOEL FARIS

Mirna Burciaga’s letter published in the Oct. 26 Pilot regarding

English-language learners in public schools was at best hopelessly

ideal, and at worst, dangerously suggestive (“Readers Respond”). The

underlying issues being addressed concern the comparative failure of

Latino children in education in comparison to other ethnic groups and

the role of government in bridging the gap in communication.

Burciaga seemed insulted that columnist Steve Smith thinks many

immigrant parents of Latino children are not proficient in English (a

fact) and goes on to complain that school administrators were unable

to communicate with non-English speaking parents. I think most people

would agree that English is our common American language, official or

not. While it would be nice if administrators could speak a foreign

language, the focus of schools is (or should be) to teach in English.

It needs to be the responsibility of non-English speaking parents to

make as a priority the goal to speak English, and to find their own

translators in the interim.

Most of my students’ parents cannot speak English. They often

express an interest to learn, but often see no pressure to do so. By

not making a serious effort to become fluent, they are sending the

wrong message to their children.

And, as a consequence, these children are often handicapped in

areas such as grammar and vocabulary, which has the potential of

causing problems in later years.

Burciaga seems to cling to a failed old-world mind-set that

government can best look after the seemingly most vulnerable in

society. I have been around long enough to see firsthand the

destructive outcomes when government plays “Big Daddy.” Children of

immigrants, legal or illegal, already automatically qualify for a

“free” education (about $100,000 over 13 or 14 years), which often

includes perks such as free breakfast and lunch, free preschool and

free after-school programs. Catering too much to the various

languages being spoken in our public schools simply goes too far,

especially when the burden to communicate should fall equally with

the parents.

I am not anti-bilingualism; in fact, I think it should be

encouraged. A personal goal is to acquire Spanish. I include, when

appropriate, some Spanish translation in the classroom. Each year, I

teach my students basic fundamentals of Spanish, and I encourage

parents to read at home with their children in Spanish, but to always

focus on English as a primary goal. (After all, too often, students

end up 10 years old and illiterate in both languages). However, I

make it perfectly clear that English is the more important language

in this country and its proper use is key to success.

Schools need to provide students access to materials that foster

great performances, hold them responsible for the achievement of high

standards and to inspire them in seeking their own educational

interests and goals. Teachers guide students fairly equally through

the learning process, however, more often than not, differences in

student achievement (other than inherent differences) can be

correlated directly to parental involvement. Is there anyone reading

this letter ready to suggest that Asian students are simply more

intelligent than other ethnic groups? Generally speaking, as a whole

group, these students do much better academically than other groups,

but I feel strongly that parental pressure to do well has a huge

impact on these outcomes. Do Asian immigrants need the government to

tell them to uphold education as important? No, absolutely not. Why

do immigrant Latino parents, as Burciaga suggests, seem to need this

help? I can tell you that a potential outcome of too much government

will be to make these families weaker, thus guiding them down a

spiraling path to stagnant comparative poverty. Studies suggest that

immigrant families have but one generation to succeed before they get

mired down in the swamps of economic dependency. Suggesting otherwise

may be hurting the very people those like Burciaga seem to honestly

want to help.

My three children are Americans with Hispanic heritage. They will

be raised with certain expectations, including achieving their best

educationally. I hope their teachers will also expect high standards

from them and help my wife and me foster in them strength to stand on

their own. The future of our country depends on a well-educated

citizenry who will contribute to society, not simply ride the

economic wave of previous generations, or worse, become chronically

dependent on big government.

* EDITOR’S NOTE: Joel Faris is a Costa Mesa planning commissioner.