Does Mandarin immersion promote “resentment toward a class or race”?
Kind of fascinating. John Huppenthal is the Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction who has banned state funding for ethnic studies programs in the state, based on a state law which bans “classes that promote resentment toward a race or class.”
However he seems to be in favor of Mandarin immersion.
I do wonder if this would be the case if Arizona had a large Chinese population, in which case such programs might be considered divisive and not contributing to assimilation. Certainly that was one of the arguments made in New Jersey by those opposing the Mandarin immersion charter school near New Haven. They also opposed charters in general, but there was a strong “you should just assimilate” air about it as well.
What have people in various parts of the country experienced along these lines? Is it an issue where you live?
Beth
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from an Arizona blog.
But, That’s Different…
I received a report from one of my top correspondents who attended yesterday’s meeting of the Arizona-Mexico Commission.
John Huppenthal made an appearance. No word on whether he tried to nail a campaign banner to the wall.
Anyway, Huppenthal tried to sell attendees on a Mandarin immersion program.
It’s early in the morning, you’ll have to excuse me for not being able to wrap my head around this. The man who has presided over the continuing dismantling of cultural studies and bilingual education actually said to a group of civic leaders interested in strengthening ties between Arizona and Mexico that students need to learn Mandarin.
Hmm. Maybe after Huppenthal is done with any program that smacks of Chicanismo, his successor will need a program to campaign against. He wants to set this one up just so the next guy can bloviate against it.
Hey, doesn’t make any less sense than anything else that has gone on in politics here lately.
Mandarin Immersion Parents Council 