Geoff Metcalf 
January 3, 1998 

Californians have been conned, stroked, finessed, and b.s-ed.....AGAIN.  "English for the Children" is a Trojan (Troj-Unz) horse. 

Bi-lingual education is counterproductive, divisive, and has failed miserably in preparing students to live, function, and work in American society.  What started out as a liberal boutique industry has turned into a bureaucratic and regulatory nightmare.  When erstwhile, wannabe Ron Unz proposed his "English For the Children" I was (like many others) pleased and encouraged that the voters would have the opportunity to correct the malfeasance of our elected officials.  However, like so many other Initiatives, Bills, and allegedly well intended ideas, the devil is in the details. 

Voters and politicians who apparently want English as an official language to be embraced, learned, and used,  flocked to sign the Unz Initiative much the way they flocked to Prop 187 and Prop 209.  However, they were had.  Those who thought they were supporting "English for the Children" apparently didn't bother to read the whole ponderous document. 

Here's what the Unz Initiative does: 

• Creates legislation mandating native-language bi-lingual education where no such law currently exists in California.
• Funds immigrant students - including ILLEGAL ALIENS- at higher levels than American children, regardless of English language skills.
NOTE:  This Initiative is a direct end run around Prop 187.  A reasonable person who supported Prop 187 MUST reject and oppose "English for the Children".
• Creates waivers that ensure survival of bilingual education in ANY language.
• Allocates $500,000,000 (that's a half a BILLION dollars of our money) from the states general fund for "free" English classes for adult immigrants - INCLUDING ILLEGALS.
• Funnels MILLIONS of dollars to radical ethnic-advocacy groups involved in anti-American activities (such as Hermandade Mexicana Nacional and La Raza).

Supporters of Propositions 187 and 209 need to realize that this so called "English for the Children" Initiative is a disingenuous, duplicitous, sleazy effort to undermine, abrogate and end run around Prop 187.  Recent legal analysis of the Unz Initiative suggests if passed, it would negate Prop 187.  When contacted to include language for the voter pamphlet which would assure the maintenance of Prop 187, Unz reportedly refused to respond. 

The Unz Initiative never refers to "citizens" or the citizenship status of the children and adults it benefits.  Rather, beneficiaries of the programs and funds are identified as California "residents", "people", "immigrants", parents" and "members of the community".  Article 1 (c) of the Initiative says we have a "moral obligation" to educate ALL  of California's children, regardless of their citizenship status. Article 2 Section 305 states that "As much as possible, current supplemental funding for English learners shall be maintained." 

The Unz finesse was executed in a superb Machiavellian manner.  Voters were sold the "sizzle" not the steak.  The headlines and bold print were marketed, and the details ignored.  The timing of the Initiative qualification was significant.  Even many well intended politicians, overwhelmed with work, bought off on the "concept" as a reaffirmation of Prop 187.  They were had.  In September of 1997 Unz was quoted in a New York Associated Press story as saying "I won't let anyone who was involved in fighting for Prop 187 within ten feet of this (English For the Children Initiative).  In May of 1997 Unz sent out a mass email which said "The extra $500,000,000.00 (funding mandated by English For the Children) which would be spent each year to pay for free English classes for adults could really help ease the citizenship backlog.  In fact, I've suggested to several people that the signature gathering drive in Latino East LA could be combined with voter registration...I would hope that passage of this measure would help to undo much of the social damage done to our state by passage of Prop 187." 

There are now two key challenges/opportunities  to prevent voters from falling victim to  this Troj-Unz horse trap.  First, those who signed petitions need to be made aware of the insidious duplicity of the details included in the initiative.  Secondly, and perhaps more daunting, is the need for those politicians and organizations that failed to do complete due diligence and examine the details to step up and acknowledge the critical oversight, and that legislation is authored, co-sponsored, supported and passed that does what we thought English for the Children was supposed to do.  Legislation can, and should, eliminate the Unz provisions which create mandates, fund illegals, and funnel General Fund money to private special interest groups. 

Legislators who are reluctant to correct past errors need only look to the California Constitution to which they all swore a sacred oath.  Article III, Section 6 of the California Constitution makes English the common and Official Language of the State of California.  Section 1(c) says "The Legislature shall enforce this section by appropriate legislation.  The Legislature and officials of the Sate of California shall take all steps necessary to insure that the role of English as the common language of the State of California is preserved and enhanced." 
 

Geoff Metcalf can be heard Monday through Friday from 9:30am to Noon on KSFO at 560AM.  Information on his newsletter can be found at:  http://www.ksfo560.com/Personalities/GM.htm