[Grovenet] ear mark this!

[Walt Wentz]

I was just following the lead of your last note. Any government 
dictation of languages is likely to backfire, while a pragmatic 
approach, left up to the self-interest of individuals and 
availability of education, will result in a natural accommodation to 
the prevailing culture. Look at Quebec as an example of the 
government trying to satisfy everybody, and thereby satisfying 
nobody, by declaring "official" bilingualism.  This only creates more 
insularity and resentment between French and English-speaking 
segments of the population. In Southwestern agricultural districts 
where the population is one-third or more native Spanish speakers, 
what sense would it make to decree that all "official" documents 
could only be printed in English?  Wouldn't it make considerably more 
sense for the local government to have some bilingual employees, 
provide some translated documents when necessary, and meantime make 
sure the local schools were teaching ESL? People are not stupid. They 
know they can't hope to prosper in the dominant culture without 
speaking the language.

>Walt,
>
>I don't understand why you pose this as an "either-or"  situation. Why does
>adopting an official language preclude the instruction of second languages?
>
>Steve
>
>
>
>>America is woefully behind
>>  the rest of the world in multiple language instruction. Instead of
>>  huddling behind a pitiful "official" English-only wall, we'd better
>>  start teaching our grade-schoolers a second language of Spanish,
>>  Russian, Chinese or Japanese
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Steven" <NoSpam03 at comcast.net>
>To: "Forest Grove local interests list" <grovenet at rdrop.com>
>Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 7:03 PM
>Subject: Re: [Grovenet] ear mark this!
>
>
>>  the babble we currently have is a roadblock to bringing our population
>>  together. Heck, pick Chinese. But lets have one.
>>
>>  -----Original Message-----
>>  From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com [mailto:grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com]On
>>  Behalf Of Walt Wentz
>>  Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 6:32 PM
>>  To: Forest Grove local interests list
>>  Subject: Re: [Grovenet] ear mark this!
>>
>>
>>>
>
>
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