Proposition 227 is accessible

"The Benefits of Bilingualism", by Dr. Nancy Zelasko (ALR, May/June 1998), warns of several problems with Proposition 227 which, in recent weeks, have been shown to be immaterial. Zelasko predicts that 227 will saddle us with an "inflexible, state-mandated curriculum".

In fact, the State Board of Education [in California] has made it clear that alternative programs, such as dual-immersion, will be permissible. Zelasko claims that waivers from the program will be "practically impossible to obtain". Again, the State Board, as well as many districts, have said that the waivers should be at least as accessible as were waivers from the previous bilingual programs. Finally, Zelasko bemoans that the one year immersion will create chaos by "mainstreaming" thousands of children who are not ready. But the State Board, repeating what Unz and co-author Gloria Tuchman said repeatedly throughout the campaign, has stated that children who are not ready after one year of immersion will have the option of one year extensions.

Neither Unz, nor Tuchman, nor anyone else active in support of 227, has expressed any problems with the State Board's interpretations. Now that the campaign is over, we should admit the good will existing on both sides of this issue, and try to make this program work. It will only fail if we want it to.

Yours truly,
Doug Lasken
Teacher, Ramona Elementary School
Hollywood, California