Issues in U.S. Language Policy

Unz Initiative News Clips

1997 Archive

1998 Archive

December

• Teachers Union Vote Upholds Bilingual Education Support – 32,000-member United Teachers-Los Angeles declines to endorse Unz.
  Los Angeles Times, 2 December 1997
• Bilingual Debate Comes to L.A. – Pressed by lawmakers, Ron Unz fails to muster evidence to support his claims.
  Los Angeles Times, 3 December 1997
• School Trustees Fault English-Only Drive – California School Boards Association opposes Unz as threat to local control.
  Orange County Register, 5 December 1997
• Key Lawmakers Work To Revive Bilingual Bill – Compromise legislation in the works in Sacramento.
  Sacramento Bee, 6 December 1997
• District Wants Non-Bilingual Program OKd – English-only program falls short in Westminster; LEP students learn English more slowly than statewide average.
  Los Angeles Times, 8 December 1997
• Big Majorities In Poll Support Bilingual Limit – Field Poll finds contradictory results on Unz.
  San Francisco Chronicle, 9 December 1997
• Voters Would End Bilingual Education – 69% of Californians support initiative, but 52% dispute one-year limit to learn English.
  San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 December 1997
• English Lessons: The Bilingual Debate – Series of articles featuring bilingual and English-only programs in San Jose.
  San Jose Mercury News, 14 December 1997
• Two Schools of Thought – Detailed discussion of bilingual vs. immersion approaches.
  San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 December 1997
• Law's Expiration Hasn't Hampered Enforcement – Alpert-Firestone bill would curtail state enforcement of bilingual education rules, but stop short of banning the program.
  San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 December 1997
• English Immersion Initiative Makes Ballot – Californians will vote June 2 on bilingual education ban.
  Los Angeles Times, 24 December 1997
• Teacher Hopes To Set Standard for English Instruction – Gloria Matta Tuchman preaches English-only, but uses Spanish in her own class; unable to support claims of English proficiency in one year.
  Orange County Register, 28 December 1997
• Unz Crusades to End Bilingual Education – The personality and ideological motivations of Ron Unz could become a central issue in the campaign.
  Orange County Register, 29 December 1997

November

• Bilingual Education Split Not on Strict Ethnic Lines – Debate rages on Latino views of Unz initiative.
  San Francisco Examiner, 2 November 1997
• Illegal Immigrants Remain a Concern Despite Economy – Another Los Angeles Times poll asked a different question and found much stronger public support for toward bilingual education.
  Los Angeles Times, 2 November 1997
• Bilingual Education Suffers Blow – Far Right sweeps Orange school board election; 86% of voters endorse anti-bilingual policy.
  Associated Press, 5 November 1997
• Vote Presages Battle On Bilingual Education – Analysts debate the implications of the Orange school board election for next year's vote on Unz.
  San Francisco Chronicle, 6 November 1997
• Checchi Unveils His Bilingual Education Plan – Democratic candidates for governor oppose Unz, seek compromise on bilingual ed.
  Los Angeles Times, 7 November 1997
• Latino Crowd Hostile to Author of Bid to Curb Bilingual Teaching – Asked about research evidence, "billionaire" responds with anecdotes.
  Los Angeles Times, 9 November 1997
• Bilingual Ed War Heats Up – San Diego County debates Unz initiative.
  North County Times, 9 November 1997
• Pollsters Skeptical of Anti-Bilingual Findings – Los Angeles Times poll critiqued by professionals.
  North County Times, 9 November 1997
• Bilingual Education Critics File Petitions – Unz files signatures, claiming more than enough to qualify initiative.
  Los Angeles Times, 14 November 1997
• Bilingual Education Opponents Start Filing – Citizens for an Educated America campaign targets anti-bilingual initiative.
  Sacramento Bee, 14 November 1997
• Prop. 187 Found Unconstitutional by Federal Judge – 1994 anti-immigrant initiative, which would have excluded undocumented children from California schools, is struck down.
  Los Angeles Times, 15 November 1997
• Supporters Speak Out for Bilingual Education – Ventura County activists mobilize against Unz.
  Los Angeles Times, 23 November 1997
• Bilingual Program's Defenders Mobilizing – Unz initiative opponents plot strategy: inform the public of its extreme provisions.
  Sacramento Bee, 23 November 1997
• Is It Hasta La Vista for Bilingual Ed? – Largely uncritical portrait of Ron Unz and his claims.
  U.S. News & World Report, 24 November 1997
• Bilingual Proponents Strike Back – Citizens for an Educated America holds its first press conference, denounces Unz as extremist.
  San Jose Mercury News, 26 November 1997

October

• Choice Looms: Fix or End Bilingual Education System – Unz initiative would have sweeping impact on local schools.
  Sacramento Bee, 5 October 1997
• Bilingual Divide – Passage of Unz would bring "chaos in schools."
  Contra Costa Times, 5 October 1997
• Parents Press Bilingual Effort at New School – Language maintenance program proves popular in Santa Ana.
  Los Angeles Times, 6 October 1997
• Issa Ads Support Bilingual Initiative – Candidate for Republican Senate campaign launches $2 million radio blitz.
  Sacramento Bee, 9 October 1997
• Bilingual Education Gets Little Support – Biased question elicits "overwhelming support" for Unz initiative.
  Los Angeles Times, 15 October 1997
       Pollster's question, omitted from the Times story, offers a poor explanation
       of the initiative and its implications.
       Letter to the Editor, by Stephen Krashen
       Los Angeles Times, 21 October 1997
• Anti-Bilingual Drive's Tone Is Key for Latinos – Immigrant bashing could open Hispanic eyes about Unz.
  Los Angeles Times, 16 October 1997
• Star Latino Teacher Joins Bilingual Foes – Escalante delivers for Unz.
  Sacramento Bee, 16 October 1997
• Bilingual Foes Seek Latino Vote – Fear and loathing among California Republicans.
  San Francisco Examiner, 19 October 1997
• Bill Would Transpose Bilingual Class Preference – One-size-fits-all measure to limit parental choice.
  Oakland Tribune, 20 October 1997
• Foes of Bilingual Education Encounter Hostile Crowd at UC Berkeley – Unz claims rejected by students.
  San Francisco Chronicle, 22 October 1997
• A Lawmaker's Firsthand View of the Bilingual Issue – Assemblywoman Martha Escutia has bitter memories of sink-or-swim; wants to mend, not end bilingual education.
  Los Angeles Times, 23 October 1997
• Golding Supports Initiative Curbing Bilingual Classes – Republican U.S. Senate candidates make support for Unz a litmus test of conservatism.
  Sacramento Bee, 24 October 1997
• The Politics of Race: The Views of Potential Candidates – Statements by California's major political figures on Unz.
  Sacramento Bee, 28 October 1997
• Union Opposes Bilingual Measure – 270,000-member California Teachers Association vows to fight Unz.
  Los Angeles Times, 29 October 1997
• Bilingual Backers Go on Offensive in Orange – Unz opponents speak out.
  Orange County Register, 31 October 1997

September

• Panel Blocks Bilingual Education Compromise – Alpert bill defeated on party-line vote.
  Los Angeles Times, 5 September 1997
• GOP wary of Anti-Bilingual Education Plan – Unz initiative seen as divisive.
  Sacramento Bee, 5 September 1997
• English-Only Plan Threatens To Fan Race, Ethnicity Fires – "Another attack on the Latino community."
  San Jose Mercury News, 5 September 1997
• Judge OKs District's Attempt to Curb Bilingual Education – Orange Unified School District gets green light for English-only program.
  Los Angeles Times, 11 September 1997
• Making a Case for Bilingualism – Interview with bilingual education director Toni Oklan-Arko.
  Contra Costa Times, 16 September 1997
• Republicans Divided on English-only Initiative – GOP fears anti-Hispanic label.
  Orange County Register, 26 September 1997
• Foes of English-Only Initiative Learn Lesson on Politics – Critique of bilingual education advocates for their slow response to Unz.
  Los Angeles Times, 28 September 1997
• State GOP in Quandary Over Minority Vote – Rank & file endorse Unz; leaders worry about backlash.
  San Francisco Chronicle, 29 September 1997

August

• Testing the Limits of Bilingual Education – Flattering profile of anti-bilingual initiative cosponsor Gloria Matta Tuchman.
  Los Angeles Times, 8 August 1997
       Letter to the Editor
       Los Angeles Times, 24 August 1997
• Cause Without Rebels – Political analysis of initiative supporters and opponents.
  LA Weekly, 15 August 1997
• Judge Halts Orange Schools' English-Immersion Program – Move to dismantle bilingual education delayed in Orange Unified School District.
  Los Angeles Times, 19 August 1997
• GOP Bid to Mend Rift With Latinos Still Strained – Unz fundraising letter stereotypes Hispanics.
  Los Angeles Times, 31 August 1997

June-July

• Unz Pursues Initiative To Ban Bilingual Education
  San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 June 1997
• Campaign Targets Bilingual Education
  Los Angeles Times, 9 July 1997
       Letter to the Editor
       Los Angeles Times, 16 July 1997
• Bilingual Education Gets Foe: Group Seeks Issue for State Ballot
  San Francisco Chronicle, 18 July 1997
• Calif. Ballot Initiative Backers Hope Effort Will Resonate Elsewhere
  Washington Post, 21 July 1997
• Bilingual Plan Spurs Debate – Sen. Alpert sponsors bill to "reform" bilingual education.
  Sacramento Bee, 27 July 1997

1994

Unlikely Path Led to Wilson Foe's Far-Right Challenge – Revealing profile of Ron Unz as Republican candidate for governor.
Los Angeles Times, 8 May 1994