| News & Editorials
Arizona Language Education Council (ALEC) Arizona Association for Bilingual Education (AABE) |
|
|
English for the Children - Arizona Con |
The initiative is modeled on Proposition 227,
passed by California voters in 1998. But the Arizona
version is far more restrictive – especially in
its limits on "waivers" of the English-only rule. These provisions, designed
to provide the illusion of parental choice, could mean the elimination
of parental choice for all practical purposes. Nevertheless, many questions
about implementation remain to be decided by state and local officials.
| Arizona's attorney general,
Janet Napolitano, has issued two official – but nonbinding – opinions on
these matters:
I01-003 – School
districts' deadline for implementing Prop. 203 is the start of the 2001-2002
school year. |
A similar measure in Colorado, sponsored by Unz's ally Linda Chavez, was removed from the ballot by the Colorado Supreme Court on July 10, 2000. Among other things, the initiative was ruled to be deceptive and misleading on the issue of parental choice.
James Crawford
English Only vs. English
Only – Arizona's Prop. 203 is far more restrictive than California's
Prop. 227 in head-to-head comparison
Stephen Krashen, Grace K. Park, and Dan
Seldin
Bilingual Education in
Arizona: What the Research Says – A review of the most rigorous scientific
studies shows that bilingual programs have proven effective in Arizona.
Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational
Fund (MALDEF)
Arizona Unz Initiative:
Questions and Answers
Section-by-Section Analysis
of Arizona Unz Initiative
Ballot arguments against Prop. 203
Arizona Language Education Council
English Plus More
Arizona English Teachers Association
Arizona Teachers of English to Speakers of
Other Languages
Sen. Joe Eddie Lopez
Mexican American Political Association
Navajo Nation, Office of the President/Vice President
Statements of Opposition
Navajo Nation Council – Resolution "strongly opposing" English-only initiative,
adopted unanimously, 20 July 1999.
News
- Bilingual Education: Strike Two, by James Crawford
- Increase in Test Scores Counters Dire Forecasts for Bilingual Ban – A biased and misleading "study" of the impact of Prop. 227 in California, which mainly parrots partisan claims by Ron Unz and his minions.
- Measure's Language Nullified – Arizona Supreme Court orders inaccurate ballot summary stricken.
- Proposition to End Bilingual Ed Officially on Ballot– Secretary of State says sponsors have sufficient signatures to qualify Prop 203 for November 7 election.
- Group Organizes To Fight English-Only Initiative– Measure "was bought and paid for by an out-of-state millionaire and is in no way a grass-roots volunteer effort," says Sen. Lopez.
- Navajo Opposition to English Only – Window Rock meeting mobilizes tribal members to save native-language revitalization programs.
- Bilingual Schooling Targeted – California millionaire discloses $100,000 backing for English-only effort.
- English-Only Measure Will Be on Ballot – Proponents claim to have sufficient signatures; opponents raise issue of parental choice.
- Council Slams Door on "English Only"
- Showdown Over Language
Rethinking Schools, Winter 2000/2001
New York Times, 20 August 2000
Letter to the editor, by Stephen Krashen
Press advisory, by the Arizona Language Education Council
Response by O. Ricardo Pimentel
Arizona Daily Star, 19 August 2000
Associated Press, 4 August 2000
Arizona Republic, 6 July 2000
Navajo Hopi Observer, 3 July 2000
Arizona Republic, 28 June 2000
Tucson Citizen, 28 June 2000
Navajo Times, 22 July 1999
Arizona Republic, 7 January 1999
- Test Scores Don't Make Case for Banning Bilingual Ed, by O. Ricardo Pimentel – New York Times "study," which ignores expert analysis of California test scores, proves nothing about bilingual education.
- Prop. 227 a Success in Calif.? Don't Believe It, Arizona, by Francisco Ramos – Ron Unz's claims about student achievement are politically motivated and scientifically unfounded.
- Value of Dumping Bilingual Ed Not Proved, by O. Ricardo Pimentel – "Beware of inflated claims" about the "success" of Prop. 227 in California.
- A Harmful Solution – "The initiative may not have grown out of racist impulses," but its passage would be "a racist outcome."
- Ariz. Should Decide School Issue – Why should out-of-state money be dismantling Arizona's education policies – especially when those policies are working?
- Our Opinion: Initiative on Bilingual Ed Is Divisive, Unfair – Deceptive measure, a threat to parents' rights, "is being foisted upon us by an out-of-state agitator."
Arizona Republic, 24 August 2000
Tucson Citizen, 25 July 2000
Arizona Republic, 4 July 2000
Arizona Daily Star, 29 June 2000
Arizona Republic, 12 June 2000
Tucson Citizen, 9 June 2000
Copyright © 2001 by James Crawford. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for free, noncommercial distribution, provided that credit is given and this notice is included. Requests for permission to reproduce in any other form should be emailed to jwcrawford@compuserve.com.
But before writing, please read my permissions FAQ.
News clips and editorials are posted here for
comment & canard 
alerts under the "fair use" provisions of U.S. copyright law. All rights
are retained by the publications in which the articles originally appeared.
