Date: Fri, 8 Sep 1995 14:07:20 MST
From: Tom Uharriet UTOM[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]ADMN.712.NEBO.EDU
Subject: English Only
We all learn more of our own languages by studying others'. Whatever
the law, we should all learn to speak outside of our own back yards.
As far as legislation goes, I believe that an English Only law could
help immigrants to integrate. Sometimes a little added motivation is
a good thing. I am particularly thinking of the children. In the
name of fairness, we have been seeking to teach them in their own
language so that we would not leave them out of the education system.
The result is that we teach the standard subjects and leave them out
of the whole Engllish speaking society. Until they learn English,
they will always be as foreigners (even if they and their parents
were born here). Living in the US without being taught English
certainly hurts them more than letting other academic subjects suffer
for a few semesters.
Some argue that theaching them English should be limited to their ESL
(English as a Second Language) class. However, it is clear that
total imersion in a language is the best way to teach it. It is
learned much faster, much more completely, and much more
permanantly. The entire educational system breaks down for these
disadvantaged children when we drag out the English learning while
teaching other subjects in other languages.
Tom Uharriet
Springville, Utah
utom[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]admin.712.nebo.edu