- It was December 1835, and a group of Texas freedom fighters
were in the midst of their struggle for independence from their tyrannical
Mexican oppressors. As Colonel Ben Milam returned to camp after a brief
absence, he learned that the Texans, weary from a bitter two-month standoff
were planning to withdraw to Goliad.
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- A true patriot, Milam and some 300 Texans rushed to face
the twelve hundred defending Mexicans in San Antonio on December 5. Milam
died in the heat of combat in front of all his men, but inspired them to
fight on and defeat the Mexican army.
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- Ben Milam gave his life so that Texans could be free
from Santa Ana's persecution and enjoy a state of their own based on the
same individual rights and liberties enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.
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- Jump ahead now to May 2002. As I walked through the parking
lot of Ben Milam Elementary School in Bryan, Texas for another day of substitute
teaching, I could not help but think of the great patriot for whom that
school was named.
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- As the class day began, mariachi music was played over
the loudspeaker in the classroom to mark the beginning of the announcements.
The announcements were presented in English as usual, but they were repeated
again in Spanish, and then part was done in Spanish first.
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- Looking at the impressionable second grade children,
they did not seem phased in the least by the bilingual announcements.
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- After all the announcements came the American pledge,
then the Texas pledge, then the American pledge again, this time in Spanish.
All of the children, about half of whom were non-Hispanic, recited it from
memory.
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- To be sure, fluency in both English and at least one
foreign language is an admirable goal for Texas schoolchildren. The problem
arises when one particular foreign language is elevated among all others
and placed on the same plane as English.
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- This is precisely the concern that former Texas Attorney
General and gubernatorial candidate Dan Morales eloquently voiced in the
Spanish debate orchestrated by Tony Sanchez.
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- The fact is that a common language is essential to societal
unity, citizen participation in a democracy, economic advancement, military
preparedness, and countless everyday activities.
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- Consider the military, which is vital to the protection
of our society. Given the urgent need to understand commands without the
delay and ambiguities of translation, there is little doubt that someone
who does not speak English could not help defend this nation. Similarly,
a common language is also necessary for civilians to efficiently communicate
in emergencies to first responders.
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- Thus, the goal of schools should be to teach students
who do not speak English how to do so as soon as possible. There continues
to be vigorous scholarly debate concerning the best approach to bilingual
education, but the dual language announcements at Ben Milam go far beyond
even the most liberal bilingual education program because they are presented
to all children on an apparently permanent basis.
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- Thus, instead of developing in English proficiency in
children whose first language is Spanish, the dual-language announcements
are a crutch that makes learning English superfluous. Dual-language announcements
loudly and clearly convey the message that students are not expected to
learn English.
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- Affirming that English is the common language of Texas
is in no way a slight against Texans of Mexican origin. In fact, among
the delegates to the Texas Independence Convention in 1836 were Texans
of Mexican descent such as Lorenzo de Zavala and Jose Francisco Ruiz.
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- Yet, the Convention's proceedings and the founding documents
they drafted were in English. Indeed, it is patronizing to suggest that
Texans of Hispanic origin are unable or unwilling to learn English.
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- While the ability of millions of Texans to speak a foreign
language enriches our culture and economy in countless ways, only Texans
who also speak English can be full participants in the economic and civic
life of this state and nation.
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- It is time that Texas public schools, especially one
named after one of Texas' founding fathers, recognize this reality and
make English proficiency their goal for all students.
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