Issues in U.S. Language Policy

Unz Initiative News Clips

1998 Archive

May

Gov. Pete Wilson's Veto Message for SB 6 – Compromise bill had been billed as an alternative to Prop. 227

• Waivers Studied as Key to Prop. 227 – School districts look closely at "special needs" loophole for providing bilingual programs.
  San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 1998
• Signs of Protest – Prop. 227 opponents march in Silicon Valley.
  San Jose Mercury News, 30 May 1998
• Fresno Schools Chief Blasts Prop. 227 on CNN – Unz initiative would retard English acquisition, superintendent says.
  Fresno Bee, 30 May 1998
• Bilingual Education Has Fallen Into Disfavor – Prop. 227 threatens bilingual education at the national level.
  New York Times, 30 May 1998
• A City Where Bilingual Says Dual, Not Duel – "In Calexico's unique border situation, Spanish-English programs have seen results."
        Traffic Flows Both Ways in Cross-Border Bilingual Program
        Growing Up, Border Town's Teachers Experienced Their Students' Struggles
  Orange County Register, 29 May 1998
• Prop. 227 Slips, Still Holds Lead – Margin of support narrows in May 20-26 poll.
  San Jose Mercury News, 29 May 1998
• Californians Likely To End Bilingual Ed – If voters approve initiative, successful programs face elimination.
  USA Today, 27 May 1998
• Bilingual Poll: S.F. Chinese Back Fong, Oppose Prop. 227 – 3 out of 4 Chinese Americans plan to vote against initiative.
  San Francisco Examiner, 27 May 1998
• Calif. Battle Goes Beyond Bilingual Ed. – Voter splits on initiative reflect tensions over race, immigration, and assimilation.
  Education Week, 27 May 1998
• California Townsfolk Speak Different Languages Over Education – Bitter divisions over Santa Barbara school board decision to scrap bilingual ed.
  New York Times, 27 May 1998
• A Bilingual Success Story – "Widely hailed Calexico system would topple if state voters pass Prop. 227."
  San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 1998
• The Prop. 227 Challenge – Santa Ana schools ponder the chaos Unz would create.
  Orange County Register, 26 May 1998
• A Boomtown of Bilingual Education – Moving beyond English-only politics, Miami stresses bilingualism for its economic and cultural advantages.
  Los Angeles Times, 25 May 1998
• Diverse Students and Diverse Opinions – Bilingual students at Richmond High have better grades and higher scores than other groups.
  Contra Costa Times, 25 May 1998
• If Bilingual Education Proposal Wins, Future Is Murky –Widespread uncertainty about the legal impact of Prop. 227.
  Riverside Press-Enterprise, 24 May 1998
• Native Tongues – Prop. 227 threatens to overwhelm speech therapy system for English learners.
  Los Angeles Times, 24 May 1998
• What Is the Real Problem? – Bilingual education is unfairly blamed for other failings in the schools.
  San Jose Mercury News, 24 May 1998
• Dual-Immersion Programs Unintended Targets of Prop. 227 – Initiative would ban an approach that serves both English-speaking and non-English-speaking children.
  Contra Costa Times, 24 May 1998
• Support Slips for Prop. 226, Not Prop. 227 – 63% still support anti-bilingual initiative, according to Times Poll conducted May 16-20.
  Los Angeles Times, 23 May 1998
        POLL ANALYSIS: Prop. 227 Remains Strong
        Broader attitude survey on bilingual education vs. immersion
        May polling details
• Tycoon Gives $1.5 Million to Measure's Opponents – 11th hour donation will finance major TV advertising campaign.
  Los Angeles Times, 22 May 1998
• District Asks for Bilingual Exception – Popular two-way program seeks to preserve parental choice.
  Orange County Register, 22 May 1998
• Anti-Prop. 227 Forces Gear up for TV Ad Blitz – No on 227 to spend an unexpected $2.7 million on advertising in last two weeks of the campaign.
  San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 May 1998
• S.D. Schools Develop Own Reform Plan – School board stresses accountability of programs for English learners.
  San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 May 1998
• L.A. Teachers Group Pledges Defiance if Prop. 227 Passes – 1,000 teachers prepare for civil disobedience.
  Los Angeles Times, 21 May 1998
• Riordan Plans Ads in Spanish Backing Measure – LA mayor to spend $250,000 of his own to push 227.
  Los Angeles Times, 21 May 1998
• Wilson Bristles at Claims He's Playing Racial Politics – Governor defends support of "wedge issues" like Prop. 227.
  San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 May 1998
• Hundreds Rally Against Props. 226 and 227 – Sacramento demonstration mobilizes "groups representing women, seniors, children, clergy, homeless, immigrants and minorities."
  Associated Press, 20 May 1998
• Council Takes Position Against Prop. 227 on Bilingual Education – LA city council votes 12-1 to oppose Unz "insanity."
  Los Angeles Times, 20 May 1998
• Wilson Backs Ballot Measure to Ban Bilingual Education – Governor rejects compromise bill, endorses Prop. 227.
  Los Angeles Times, 19 May 1998
• California's Public School Education Gets Lukewarm Review from California Parents – Broad attitude survey includes preference for English immersion over bilingual education.
  Los Angeles Times, 19 May 1998
• Bilingual Classes a Knotty Issue – Outrageously biased overview of bilingual education in California.
  Los Angeles Times, 18 May 1998
• Prop. 227 Foes See Charter School Loophole – Some bilingual schools consider conversion as a way of surviving Unz initiative.
  San Jose Mercury News, 18 May 1998
• School Officials Say Prop. 227 Could Cost Area $100 Million – Los Angeles alone faces huge loss of state and federal funds.
  Los Angeles Times, 15 May 1998
• Bilingual Programs Embraced Elsewhere – "Other states with large populations of immigrant children take a dfferent approach, some offering dual language classes to all."
  Contra Costa Times, 15 May 1998
• Candidates for Governor Trade Views, Potshots – Lungren announces opposition to Prop. 227, joining 3 Democratic opponents in criticizing Unz initiative as threat to "local control" of schools; transcript of candidates' remarks.
  San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 1998
• Don't Judge 227 by Its Cover, Linguist Warns – Stephen Krashen goes on the road to defeat Unz, save bilingual education.
  Stockton Record, 10 May 1998
• Educators Won't Drop Bilingual Programs – Civil rights groups will have lawsuits ready if Prop. 227 passes.
  San Francisco Examiner, 10 May 1998
• Unz Uses Initiative for Impact – Portrait of Prop. 227 sponsor: No question about his intelligence; many questions about his character.
  Contra Costa Times, 10 May 1998
• Capital Takes Bilingual Education Middle Road – Unz would cripple schools by eliminating bilingual teacher aides.
  Sacramento Bee, 10 May 1998
• L.A. Latinos Join Forces to Save Bilingual Classes – At 11th hour, políticos begin to speak out against Prop. 227.
  Los Angeles Times, 10 May 1998
• Ads Heat Up Fight on Bilingual Ban – Unz radio spots will feature Latino critics of bilingual education in English and Spanish.
  Los Angeles Times, 8 May 1998
• Big Ad Push by Prop. 227 Foes: Bilingual-Ed Allies To Raise Cost Issue – Media blitz to stress $50 million provision for adult English classes.
  Sacramento Bee, 7 May 1998
• Lawsuits Against Teachers a Possibility – Prop. 227 provision designed to "intimidate" educators, Unz concedes.
  Contra Costa Times, 7 May 1998
• Prop. 227 Could Torpedo 'Two Way' Language Programs – English-speaking parents are up in arms.
  Education Week, 6 May 1998
• District Fuels Debate on Bilingual Education – English-only program in Orange USD produces unimpressive gains in English.
  Los Angeles Times, 6 May 1998
• Prop. 227 Critics Cite School Data to Make Case – Children pulled out of bilingual classrooms in celebrated 9th St. boycott are faring poorly in English two years later.
  Los Angeles Times, 6 May 1998
• Legislators OK Alternative to Prop. 227 – Gov. Wilson criticizes compromise bill as "very, very late," hints he may support Unz initiative instead.
  Los Angeles Times, 5 May
• `English Only' Alternate Offered – Despite legislature's move toward local flexibility, latest Field Poll shows Prop. 227 with 71% support among likely voters.
  San Francisco Chronicle, 5 May 1998
• Bilingual Teachers Say They Would Defy Prop. 227 – Civil disobedience, litigation predicted in Ventura County.
  Los Angeles Times, 4 May
• Clinton Denounces Proposal to End Bilingual Education – Unz's one-year deadline for English acquisition is unrealistic, President says.
  New York Times, 3 May 1998
• 3-day Bay Area Stay Starts with Attack on Anti-Bilingual Bill – Cllinton calls Prop. 227 "the wrong answer" for children.
  San Francisco Examiner, 2 May 1998
• Prop. 227 Threatens Successful Program – Unz initiative would outlaw two-way bilingual education, despite effectiveness with students, popularity with parents.
  Modesto Bee, 1 May 1998
• S.F. Study: Bilingual Program Is a Plus – Students who graduate from bilingual programs after 4 to 5 years outperform English-speaking peers in San Francisco.
  San Francisco Examiner, 1 May 1998
• Forbes Brings His Message to Irvine – Presidential aspirant seeks to exploit pro-227 sentiment.
  Orange County Register, 1 May 1998

April 1998
March 1998
February 1998
January 1998
1997

May

• Quality of Debate Suffers from Distortions, Stereotypes, by James Crawford – Unexamined prejudices drive support for Prop. 227.
  San Jose Mercury News, 31 May 1998
• Ignorance Is Behind This Proposition, by John Espinoza, bilingual teacher – Under Prop. 227, one-year "crash course" in English would be a disaster for many students.
  Los Angeles Times, 30 May 1998
• Vote Yes on Prop. 227 – Initiative process is a "blunt instrument" for school reform, but in this case passage of 227 would be "considerably better than doing nothing."
  Contra Costa Times, 29 May 1998
• A Threat to Community and Communication, by Stephen L. Weber, president of San Diego State University – "Proposition 227 would not only stifle the intellectual development of our children, it would also stifle their later ability to learn other languages."
  San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 1998
• The Ninth Street Myth: Who Speaks for Latino Parents? by James Crawford – A 1996 boycott, often cited as "inspiration" for the Unz initiative, was a needless confrontation orchestrated for political gain; en español.
  Hispanic Link News Service, 25 May 1998
• The English-Only Assault on Children, by Jill Stanton and Bob Prentice – Parents appeal to voters to spare two-way bilingual programs.
  San Francisco Examiner, 22 May 1998
• 227 Wrong Fix for What Ails Bilingual Ed – Bottom line: measure would be bad for children.
  Stockton Record, 20 May 1998
• No Bilingual Mandate – By eliminating parental choice and local option, Prop. 227 represents a "simplistic solution to a complex problem."
  San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 May 1998
• Wilson Is Too Little, Too Late on Bilingual Education – Governor's veto motivated by polls, not substance.
  San Jose Mercury News, 19 May 1998
• Wilson's Poison Pen – Cynical ploy contradicts governor's rhetoric on local control of schools.
  San Francisco Chronicle, 19 May 1998
• No on Prop. 227: Bilingual Initiative Is a Dangerous Experiment with Kids – Unz mandate for "untested, sink-or-swim" approach would be a "straitjacket on California's school districts."
  Sacramento Bee, 14 May 1998
• Prop. 227 Fails the Test – "A wolf in sheep's clothing," initiative would harm students, restrict parental choice, and destroy successful programs.
  San Francisco Examiner, 10 May 1998
• The Trouble with Prop. 227 – "One-size-fits-all ... initiative will deny local school boards the right to decide what makes sense for local students, and limit parents' right to decide what makes sense for their kids."
  San Jose Mercury News, 10 May 1998
• Bilingual Education Has Failed, by Ron Unz – Prop. 227 Sponsor tries to fend off criticisms.
  San Jose Mercury News, 10 May 1998
• Bilingual Education a Necessity for Oakland, by Carole C. Quan – In a diverse district, "students learn best if their teachers build on what students already know."
  Oakland Tribune, 8 May 1998
• Sensible Bilingual Reform – Wilson should sign SB 6, even though the compromise legislation provides "minimal standards" for programs serving English learners.
  Los Angeles Times, 6 May 1998
• Another View on the Unz Initiative, by Margot Freistadt – Unz would hurt English-speaking students by destroying effective two-way bilingual programs.
  San Francisco Chronicle, 6 May 1998
• End Bilingual Schooling? It Hasn't Even Been Fully Implemented Yet, by Manuel N. Gomez and Robin L. Harders – As long as "resistance to bilingual education is political rather than educational," English for the Children will remain a false promise.
  Los Angeles Times, 3 May 1998
• Success Succeeds – "A San Francisco study of bilingual education skews results by leaving out students who lag behind their smarter peers."
  San Francisco Examiner, 3 May 1998
• No on 227: Ron Unz Flunks – Korean immigrant recalls the humiliations of English-only schooling.
  San Francisco Examiner, 1 May 1998

April 1998
March 1998
February 1998
January 1998
1997