School Programs Center of Debate

As an elementary teacher, I have watched very closely the battle over bilingual education in Orange Unified. This past year, I had seven different languages represented in my class of 35 children, including one new girl who spoke Punjabi (an Indian language). I spoke only in English, yet each child grew in language and academics.

In the July 11 paper, you quote Carmen Hernandez, a Spanish-speaking immigrant from Mexico, who believes in retaining bilingual because “it’s very important to us to preserve our roots. I want my child to learn English but not forget his Spanish.”

Does she suggest we teach seven different languages in a classroom? Does she suggest that unless you speak your native language at school you will not retain your heritage? Does she suggest that we do this only for the Mexican-born children?

My Punjabi student retained her Indian culture but also learned English by the end of the year. She was more fluent than many Mexican American children who had been born in this country, I believe because her parents placed a high value on her learning English.

Perhaps Hernandez needs to reconsider why she is in this country, sending her children to English-speaking schools. Is fluent English a priority to her? Would English-speaking children be taught in their native language if they lived in Mexico?

MARSHA MULRONEY

Placentia