English Only Debate
...the word used by the Taino Indians who inhabited Caribbean islands like Puerto Rico and Cuba?
Many Americans consider that this influx of new cultures has greatly
enriched American society, bringing both skilled and unskilled workers into
expanding industries, revitalizing decaying urban centers across the country,
and re-energizing our political establishment with new visions for the future.
In this view, the culture, values, and language of the newcomers contribute to
cultural diversity within the country. Other Americans, however, see diversity
as a cause of disunity, not a source of national enrichment. They speak of the
costs inherent in the new wave of immigration labor market competition
with native workers and the demands for social services. They hold to a
nativist view, believing that the nation is divided and its common history
diluted by strangers. They see the myth of the melting pot the assimilation
of immigrants into the American culture being challenged by an influx of
foreigners who are not interested in maintaining the ties to American culture
based on Anglo Protestant history and the English language.
The most visible and influential anti-bilingual education movement in recent
years has been "English Only," headed by California millionaire Ron Unz. Its
platform argues that bilingual programs take resources away from public
school budgets. The movement equates bilingualism with "cultural separatism,"
especially among Spanish speaking immigrants. The anti-bilingual
advocates argue that these non-English speakers may be evading the process of
assimilation that earlier immigrant groups followed. In short, for "English
only" proponents, bilingual education in public schools threatens to divide us
along language lines. Response to this negative trend has been an energetic
national campaign that has been...
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