The Willow Glen Resident

Council Watch

City Council joins chorus against Unz initiative

But poll shows that 70 percent of state voters like proposal

By Cecily Barnes

At its March 17 meeting, the San Jose City Council unanimously opposed Proposition 227, Ron Unz's so-called English for the Children ballot initiative. If approved by California voters in June, the initiative will prohibit bilingual education in public schools throughout the state.

Opponents of the proposition say they're thrilled that the council voted in their favor.

"I think it's wonderful to have the City Council's support for bilingual education," said Marilyn Dion, a parent at River Glen Elementary School, which is known for its bilingual immersion program. "The council has a very progressive view of education. Silicon Valley is a global economy, and here especially, there's a strong need for bilingual people in the workforce."

Back in January, Proposition 227 opponents received another show of support when the San Jose Unified School District board unanimously opposed the initiative. However, despite both votes opposing the initiative, a recent poll conducted by the Field Research Institute in San Francisco showed that, at this point, 70 percent of California voters said they would support the initiative.

But activists say that polling results aren't always reliable.

"When polling happens, the question that people get asked plays a very big role in how people answer," said Maria Ferrer, county Board of Education trustee and chair of the Education for All Children, No on Unz campaign. "There has been other polling that's been done where, if you actually explain to people what the initiative will do, the results are reversed. People aren't really aware of all the negative effects that this initiative would have."

Ferrer says that the results have only encouraged her and other activists to work harder.

In line with these efforts, the Community Alliance for a Responsible Education System [CARE] will hold a public forum on the initiative on March 26 in Willow Glen.

The informational debate will begin Thursday at 7 p.m. at Saint Francis Episcopal Church at 1290 Pine Ave. State Assemblyman Mike Honda and Evergreen Valley College trustee Richard Hobbes are among the speakers. Ron Unz, who authored the initiative, was also invited but declined the invitation.

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