Opposition to "English for the Children Initiative"

Spring
1998
Resolution Number
03.01
 
Contact
Assigned to
Equity and Diversity Action Committee
Category
Equity and Diversity
Status
Completed
Status Report

The Initiative passed despite our opposition.

Whereas many students in K-12 who are in bilingual education programs today will be in community colleges in the future and therefore the status and effectiveness of bilingual education are of concern to the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges, and

Whereas the Ron Unz-sponsored ballot proposition "English for the Children Initiative," which will be on the State June Ballot, specifies one teaching method instead of allowing professional educators to decide teaching methods to meet individual student needs, and

Whereas there is no research or other evidence showing that the proposed Unz method of teaching English has any validity,

Resolved that the Academic Senate oppose the Ron Unz-sponsored "English for the Children Initiative" as antithetical to best teaching and learning practices, and

Resolved that the Academic Senate inform local academic senates about the Unz initiative and its ramifications.