By John Andrews Bob Ewegen of the Denver Post, that paper's designated hitter to read me out of the human race in order to pass Referendum C & D, had a breathless expose last Saturday, "revealing" that I favor ending government involvement in education. Those quote marks signify that this story is ancient news, having been fully aired my first year in the Senate, 1999. But it's quite true: I had signed, several years previously, and I remain to this day a signer of, the Proclamation for the Separation of School and State. Here's why...
Schoolkids' debt to the late Chief
By Krista Kafer krista555@msn.com William Rehnquist, who served on the Supreme Court for 33 years, and as Chief Justice for the past 19 years, was laid to rest this week. The Chief Justice will long be remembered by reformers for his support of parental choice in education. Ultimately millions of children will learn and thrive at good schools because Rehnquist understood the Constitution and importance of freedom in education.
¿Hables Englisch? Sprechts du ingles? Hello?
By Krista Kafer Monday’s Rocky Mountain News reported that libraries around the nation, including those in Colorado, are stocking the shelves with Spanish books, magazines, and multimedia. The paper reported last month that the Denver Public Library system intends to make several branches officially bilingual complete with bilingual staff and books and services in Spanish. Me gusta el español. Es utíl. So what’s the problem?
Recently the Denver Post reported that Latino 3rd graders who took the Spanish version of 2005 Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) reading and writing tests outscored Latino students who took the English version. The majority of Spanish test takers speaks Spanish as a first language and is currently enrolled in bilingual classes. While reading and writing in Spanish are good skills, the long-term success of these students depends on whether they can transition to English. There is evidence that many bilingual programs fall short of this goal.
We have to ask ourselves if these kinds of policies are hindering or helping immigrants learn English, the language of commerce and civil society in America.
Learning a new language is tough and it seems to me that we should increase opportunities for immigrants and their children to learn English.
My grandparents, who grew up in German speaking households, were not allowed to speak German while at school. It seems a bit harsh to be sure until you consider the outcome. Grammy and Papa could speak and write fluently in English and German. Being surrounded by the English language -- at school, in the library, in front of the television, or at the park – builds fluency.
So in my case, ultimately, my grandparents’ mastery of English meant that I would have the opportunity to learn German in college -- as the first in my immediate family to attend. Eine kleine bisschen Deutsch at any rate.
To gain the American dream – a good job, a home or small business of one’s own, and a thriving family – one must know English. Tell someone to climb a ladder without the rungs. That’s what we do when we don’t give people the opportunity to learn English. That’s what we do when we hinder their progress.
Perhaps it’s time to rethink our language policies. Ja?
Beauty is in the eye of the builder
By Krista Kafer krista555@msn.com ... and some builders don’t like what they see. The Denver Post reports that Aurora developers are planning to create their own schools apart from the Aurora Public School District (APS) in order to attract buyers. Good schools are important to consumers and APS – a district with more than half of its schools rated "low" on the state’s School Accountability Reports – isn’t always a hit with the developers’ clientele.
Accused plagiarist Churchill let off on racial lie
By Jessica & Rob Corry jessicapeckcorry@yahoo.com David Lane, media spinster and attorney to the Far Left, has finally come to a point where he can spin no more. He and his client, Ward Churchill, the University of Colorado’s America-hating professor of the moment, laughably claimed “victory” yesterday upon learning that CU will move forward with its investigation into the professor’s professional incompetence and fraud. Nice try, Mr Lane, but no sale.