US vote on bilingual schools

Campaigners want the sun to set on bi-lingual education in Arizona

The long-running argument in the United States over whether schoolchildren should be taught in Spanish, English or both will be put before voters in Arizona.

A proposition has been put forward for a vote in November calling for all state schools in Arizona to use English as the main language of teaching and learning.

This would mean the end of bilingual education, in which Spanish and English are both used in the classroom, in schools which are often serving a predominantly Hispanic community.

Almost one in four pupils in Arizona speaks a language other than English at home - and a large majority of these are Spanish speakers.

Those supporting bilingual education argue that the state's 162,000 Spanish-speaking pupils achieve more if taught through their first language and that attending an all-English schools would put Spanish-speakers at an immediate disadvantage.

But those seeking to scrap bilingual education say that Hispanic youngsters should be encouraged to become completely fluent in written and spoken English if they are to have an equal chance in the jobs market.

Divided opinion

The proposal, Proposition 203, is similar to a measure introduced in California. Opinion polls there have found a majority of Hispanic voters against the ending of bilingual education.

But in Arizona, there have been claims from those supporting the proposition that polls show a majority in favour of scrapping schools that use both English and Spanish.

Arguing in favour of an all-English education system, Maria Mendoza, of the English for the Children organisation, said that the measure would "give a future to Hispanic children ... they're going to finally learn to speak English, read English and write English".

However opponents such as lawyer Isabel Garcia say that the proposition would prevent Hispanic children from succeeding in schools and would "punish kids who are not able to speak English".