When you hear or see an ad for a proposition what is the first thing that comes to mind? I think of an immediate change for the better and would otherwise believe what is being said about it.
But....
But....
That all changed when i became familiar with Proposition 203, an older proposition that was easily passed about 6 years ago. Basically, this is a proposition that set out to minimize the amount of Spanish spoken in schools K-12th grade. It is also a proposition designed to diminish the threat of another dominant language in Arizona. So, when Proposition 203 was passed, it basically banned bilingual teaching in public schools and made English the dominant language.
Now, besides the obvious, what is wrong with this proposition being passed in the state of Arizona?
Well, for one, this new law ignores the long terms affects of eventually abolishing diversity in classrooms. It is also is not as specific as would be necessary to enforce it properly. A few examples of this are the facts that it doesn't address standard American Sign Language or the 21 Native American languages that have been spoken in Arizona for many generations. This law was put in place for reasons that can only be described as ignorant. For example, it was purposefully misleading to the public because of actual reasons behind it being implemented. This could have also been the reason why it was actually passed in not only Arizona, but, California as well. As if that's not enough, this law doesn't give parents to opt out of it like its some kind of program. It's a statewide law that forces Spanish speaking students, who may not understand English as well as they should, into all English classes where the teachers may not instruct in any other language.
So, the state of Arizona allowed Proposition 203 to be a law and lead people to believe in this decision because they said that these programs were wasting tax payers money. Because our politicians don't waste our money that we pay in taxes at all, and we probably wouldn't want to allow there to be any kind of waste of the states hard earned money. I actually think that this interesting idea is one of the best ,because students usually learn better when their education and rights are stripped form them because they fall into a certain stereotype. Don't you agree?
My idea for change was to keep the bilingual programs, but, actually put time and energy into them and get the kids speaking English fluently at a younger age. That way it will be easier for them to transition into all English classes and be treated like their fellow peers while being submerged into the English language slowly.
My whole point of this was to express my feelings about the topic of Proposition 203 and allow others to stop and think about long-term affects of their decisions. Not only the effects of the decisions, but, WHO is being affected. If not you, then who? Because someone is feeling the negative repercussions of the passing of this law. I would also like to show that not all things are the way they seem. Spanish being spoken in primarily English schools won't necessarily hurt any of the students, but instead, will allow them to experience different cultures other than their own. Also, the full truth of this proposition was not expressed to the public, and as a result it was passed under misleading pretences. It's like this wire fence. Alone it is nothing more than plain metal keeping something out. But, with the presence of ohter things such as plants and flowers it becomes more than a barrier.
It's too bad that my sarcasm can't reach more people who have control over laws like these. Also, it's unfortunate that the residents of Arizona feel so threatened by another language that they think this law will help rebuilt the perfect bubble that they live their lives in daily.
-Noel
Thank you for taking the time to read this and if you have any ideas or opinions please express them in the form of a comment.
6 comments:
It's interesting that this law even passed in the first place considering the United States does not have a national language. Though English is efficient in this country, because most people speak it, it is not nationally standardized to speak English (unlike, for example, France, where the 'national language' has been stated as French).
Diversity is an increasingly important issue in this country as well. Not only are we part of a global community, society, and economy, but diversity on a small local scale improves relationships between differing cultures. To expose our children to differing cultures, ideals, and do I really hesitate to say, languages, only makes for a more tolerant, acceptable, and understandable community for our children and our future.
Also, as many of the students affected by this law are young primary Spanish speaking students, because they do not perform as well (under English teaching), they are often seen as 'stupid,' 'unintelligent,' or not capable of the material and are held back, further stereotyping and frustrating them into unnecessary and illogical categories, when if taught in their own language, they would flourish and succeed and contribute to this country immensely.
These laws, justified as protecting our 'way of life,' only hurt us in the long run.
Jenna-
Thats what i thought about this whole thing. The more i learned about it, the more i wanted it to change. Just because these kids don't have control over the law. It was purposefully created so that the parents wouldn't have the option of getting their children into another program in their school.
I think one of the major reasons that it passed is because Arizona is a border state and i know that a lot of people that i talk to feel "threatened" by the thought of all the illegal immigrants in the state. And I also think that the people who voted on this proposition were those who aren't affected by this in the long run. So, thats frustrating.
Now I'm not calling for the demolition of this law, but there needs to be a great deal of construction done on it. Like i said, when something stands along it can be seen as incomplete and ineffective. But, when paired with something new and innovative it can look completely transformed.
I'm all for diversity and American freedoms... I am also for one language. English. If I go to Mexico and leave the tourist zone. I have to read and speak Spanish to get along. English is rarely used. If I go to just about any other country in the world that doesn't speak English, I need to know their language to get along. If I went to school, I would have to understand and read their language, yet here in America... we've given away our freedoms so we don't hurt any aliens' feelings.. we try to cater to everyone... while ignoring our own. I'm all for banning the phone recording 'for English press 1'. Why do I have to press anything? Of course it's in English.. I'm in the USA. But we've watered ourselves down because politicians want votes and retailers think they may 'piss someone off' by not having everything in Spanish and they'll lose the sale. We've lost ourselves for votes and money.
AZDaryl-
True, it may be frustrating to have to press another button on your phone when trying to reach customer service representatives, and we have yes we do have to mold to other cultures when we leave our bubble known as the USA. But, what about the ideas that this country was built on? The thought of freedom and living the "American Dream"?
Most of the students in the studies that i researched are born in the US but are raised in a house where Spanish is the primary language. What do we do with that situation? Say tough luck and let the CHILDREN IN OUR NATION grow up illiterate?
I don't think so. This is obviously a problem, one that needs to be addressed ten years ago. We need another solution to this frustrating situation.
What would you do differently? Or do you fully support this law?
I think proposition 203, or the Unz initiative, was a great idea. Immersing Spanish speaking children in English culture is not only helpful to themselves and their future, but it is the right thing to do. In no way is this stripping children of their culture or identity, instead, it is allowing them to have a future in America.
The only downside to this program is that it doesn’t take into account that students who have not become proficient in their native language will be slower to learn a new language, in this case, English.
However, that being said, this program is a great alternative to the costly bilingual programs that were in place before 2001 because it provides a quick immersement into the English language and into American culture. Why is it our responsibility to foster and grow English as a Second Language (ESL) students in their own culture, language and tradition?
It’s not.
Wake up and see that you’re promoting the very racism that you so nobly seek to eliminate. 48% of students in Arizona are minorities. Your assumption that all of them are Hispanic is racist or uninformed at best. 27% of the minorities in Arizona are Native American, and 11% are something other than Hispanic or Native. What should we do to fully embrace their culture? If we spent half as much time providing solutions to English illiteracy as we do bitching and moaning about political correctness, there would not be 19% of Arizona students living under the poverty level right now.
What propositions 203 is doing is providing minority students with options and a future. As much as we aren’t pandering to their heritage and culture, we are doing them a service by helping ESL students succeed and prosper as productive citizens.
N-dawg x-10-
You can see perfectly how i see it.
Were stripping them of their background and forcing them into a regular classroom where they most likely do not understand the information that is being taught.
Why is it such a bad thing to have bilingual programs? Wasting money is not something i would say we are doing. Thats only a scapegoat used by you and everyone else who voted 'Yes' for this proposition.
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