Is Teaching English-Only Classes Racist?
eed Hastings may lose his seat on the California state Board of Education for supporting English-only classooms for immigrant students in some California schools. Even Susan Estrich is defending him. Here’s my favorite picture of Susan Estrich: It all bounces around like BB’s on a stainless-steel counter, but it all comes together so be patient. • In the Middle Ages, Benefit of Clergy allowed that any layman who could demonstrate literacy could gain a reprieve as long as the crime was only a lesser felony or first conviction. Ben Jonson, the playwright, pled benefit of clergy when he was arraigned for killing a fellow actor. In other words, the ability to read and write English (or Latin) was so valued it could be used as protection against criminal punishment. • Historically, people have looked down on others who do not speak their language. Lack of a common language fundamental interferes with cultures engaging peacefully with each other. A difference in language could be enough of a
