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Support for English as this nation’s official
language is a must! Clinton’s Executive Order 13166 requires that
anyone not speaking English must have accommodations made in their own
language, which is wrong and should be rescinded. This means people may
take the driver’s test using their own language though all USA road signs
are in English. If people not born here can’t read their language, speak or
read English the NC test is read to them. We don’t do this for those
natives who poorly understand English and shouldn’t for those who don’t.
The state of Florida is currently proposing that
all pre-school through K2 students be mandatorily taught Spanish. Data
suggests learning a language when kids are young is easiest. I believe it
would be advisable for more of us to learn another language including
Arabic, Spanish, French and other options; however, mandating only Spanish
is wrong and is a threat to our national cultural integrity
Recent Bureau of Labor statistics reveal, “Across
all industries, Hispanic workers have a greater chance of getting killed.”
(The Charlotte Observer, Sunday, 5-27-02, D1). Fatalities per 100,000
workers – Hispanics 5.2, white 4.4, black 4.1. This high mortality rate is
being attributed to the Hispanic populations lack of understanding of
English, not the nature of the jobs. Therefore not speaking English in this
country is a significant safety hazard.
In schools, Clinton’s Executive Order means
children are to be taught in their native languages which is tragic for
there are not enough teachers available who speak English to teach basic
courses in math, science, English, and history much less to find those who
can speak and teach in different languages. In one Salisbury School 34
different languages are spoken. If an accommodation to each is to be made
we will bankrupt the school system. In Forsythe County a commissioner was
reportedly told that 80% of the children speaking Spanish as their native
language were in the USA illegally, which burdens their system to the tune
of $435 million for new construction to accommodate this illegal growth.
If people truly cared about leveling the playing
field and closing the Minority Achievement Gap, then we’d start
with the need for English as the National Language. The areas in which
Hispanic and African American children lag are higher mathematics, e.g.
Algebra and Geometry, which handles a lot of word problems and reading.
The biggest deficit in the Achievement Gap is based on a lack of
understanding of English. Failure to make English the national language
will negate effectively addressing many other basic issues in our diverse
society.
In this nation, the bilingual education
programs drain vital funds needed for remediation for all at-risk children.
A better use of funds is through English immersion programs to bridge the
language divides for those whose native language is different.
The USA Pledge of Allegiance states that we should be “One nation under God
with Liberty and Justice for all.” No one should have to speak a language
other than English to get a job here. A common language is the basis of
our connectedness and that bond, English, must be strengthened if this
nation is to be indivisible.
When Africans came to this nation, my ancestors
had to learn English or suffer as many have and continue to do. Japanese,
Russians, Israelis, Germans, Irish, Italians, etc. all have immigrated
without concessions made that we as a nation must learn to speak their
languages. As the Hispanic population flourishes, we are being further
split by language. The trend toward dual language standards for this
nation with Spanish/English being fostered by the government for political
votes is disruptive. Multiple languages may pose a major threat to
national security and unity, as was the case of French/English in
Canada, as well as those areas riddled with wars on the continents of Africa
and Asia where much of the problem centers on different ethnic backgrounds
by sects, groups and tribes speaking different languages.
People have a right to speak as they wish in the
privacy of their homes; however, if people had to speak English for
business, legal and publicly funded enterprises the playing field
would be level for those natives of this country who speak only
English. Now, I’d support a constitutional amendment for that. For those
not choosing to speak English or learn English, a question is often asked,
why then are they here? Why not stay where they were using their native
tongues and skills to make their nation better?
Dr. Ada M. Fisher is a PHYSICIAN,
licensed teacher for secondary education in mathematics and science,
previously elected school board member, and is the Republican candidate for
the NC 12th US Congressional District. Contact her at P. O. Box
777; Salisbury, NC 28145; telephone (704) 637-6134; DrFisher@DrAdaMFisher.org
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