English Language in Public Schools. Initiative Statute.
	Argument against Proposition 227

Proposition 227 imposes one untested method for teaching English on every local school district in California.

Proposition 227 puts limited English speaking children of all ages and languages into one classroom.

The California PTA opposes Proposition 227 because it takes away parents' right to choose what's best for their children.

The California School Boards Association opposes Proposition 227 because it outlaws the best local programs for teaching English.

California's teachers oppose Proposition 227--teachers can be sued personally for teaching in the children's language to help them learn English.

Outlawing decisions by parents, teachers, and school boards on how to teach children English is wrong.

Children in California must learn English.

In thousands of classrooms all over California, they are. Good teachers. Good local school boards. Good parent involvement.

Those successes are not the result of one instructional method imposed on every school by state government.

Sadly, there have been failures too. However, these failures can best be remedied by reasonable program changes that maximize local control.

California should be returning more decisions to parents, teachers, principals, and local school boards.

A growing number of school districts are working with new English teaching methods. Proposition 227 stops them.

The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial said it best: "School districts should decide for themselves."

We urge you to join us, the California PTA, the California School Boards Association, and California's teachers in voting "NO" on Proposition 227.

JOHN D'AMELIO
President, California School Boards Association
MARY BERGAN
President, California Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO
LOIS TINSON
President, California Teachers Association