John Doolittle: “we must end federal support for disastrous bilingual education programs. Federal complicity in stifling English learning…”

“we must end federal support for disastrous bilingual education programs. Federal complicity in stifling English learning in the name of politically correct multiculturalism is just one more example of elitist bureaucrats thinking they know what's best for local schools and parents. Bilingual education has been a grave injustice to people who immigrate to America and to their children. The vast majority of immigrants who chose to leave their ancestral homelands did so in hopes of providing a better future for their children. Absolutely essential to realizing their dreams of success in America is for their children to learn, and master, the English language. Otherwise, they will be doomed to menial, unrewarding, and low-paying jobs for life. Additionally, they will be unable to fully enjoy mainstream American culture, including interaction with people of other ethnic groups through our common language--English. These multiculturalists who would keep immigrant children in a linguistic ghetto are preventing them from enjoying the ethnic diversity the multiculturalists pretend to value so highly. A child who speaks only Spanish and a child who speaks only Vietnamese cannot communicate and learn about each other. It is unrealistic to assume immigrant children can succeed in America if they only know the language of their parents. And, as people get older their ability to learn another language declines.”