Bilingual education doesn't make sense

I would like to commend Tony Reyes, president of West Chicago Community High School District 94 school board, and the whole school board, for their movement toward a full- English language approach, rather than the endless crutch and probable disservice bilingual classes produce for students of limited English speaking ability who are trying to assimilate into the United States, an English- speaking country.

I have noted some letters to the contrary. But I suspect that the motivation, for some of these letter writers, either directly or indirectly, may be employment in the field of bilingual education.

It only makes common sense that the initiative to learn the language of the land in which you are wanting to live is lessened when you can take all your classes in the language you are comfortable with, rather than English. The outcome is years of learning in a foreign language rather than the one spoke in the United States. This is counterproductive.

Like Reyes, I grew up in West Chicago in the 50s and 60s and there was always an influx of people who did not speak English, and as their children came to school, they had very limited ability to speak English themselves. We did not have bilingual classes but rather a total immersion of the English language, and these students learned English very fast and were much further ahead in this area than their counterparts of today, who are taking the bilingual approach.

The bilingual approach to education is another example of someone's idea taking on a life of its own and becoming an institution within our educational system.

We have seen this occur in our government over and over again. What was not a problem, or already had a very common sense solution, gets changed or added to with someone's idea that this is a "necessary" addition to the system. The end result is an unnecessary complication that actually inhibits progress and does a disservice to the very people it was designed to help.

We will have those who cite scientific studies for and against bilingual classes. However, in the end common sense should prevail, and that clearly indicates that Tony Reyes and his board are again on the right track.

John C. Smith Jr.

West Chicago