If the state lawmakers want to do something useful to promote the English language in Kansas, they should forget about symbolic gestures such as the “English only” bill.
Instead, they should follow through on earlier talk about adding $500,000 to fund additional English language classes in the state.
There’s a backlog of hundreds of immigrants waiting to take English language classes in the state — current programs are “maxed out,” according to Sheila Frahm, executive director of the Kansas Association of Community College Trustees.
Most immigrants understand the importance of learning English. So why aren’t we helping them?
An extra $500,000 would open slots for an additional 1,000 students in English classes.
Kansas is near the bottom in state support for English language programs.
State Rep. Delia Garcia (in photo), D-Wichita, hopes to see the money put into the final budget during the wrap-up session later this month. “I think if our state is serious about pushing for more English language learners, that’s the best approach. It prepares all Kansans to work and put money back into the state’s economy. And it puts our money where our mouth is.”
Posted by Randy Scholfield
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27 Comments
How many of these immigrants are legal? Is having the legal entry documents a requirement to take the classes?
I would rather the $500.00 per person for 1000 people go to helping legal citizens of Wichita that need the help in areas of housing, food or medical.
I take issue with Randy Scholfield’s comment of “an EXTRA $500,000″ of taxpayers hard earned money. Randy even a penny of the taxpayers’ money is not “extra.” Using the word, “extra,” is an attempt to minimalize the amount of taxes to be spent. It also implies “Easy come, Easy go” like the “extra” $300,000,000.33 for the unneeded downtown white elephant arena.
I do agree, by the way, it’s important to teach English to Spanish speaking students in our schools. However, we do have “English second language” classes in our USD 259 schools now. I can’t speak to their adequacy.
I don’t have a problem with funding some English classes – but only for legal immigrants. If we start shooting the illegal ones maybe fewer would be coming here. That could solve a lot of problems like illegal drugs, rapes, violent attacks and murders. And if we are going to fund some classes we need to insist that only English is on the radio and other places.
Garcia does not care if they are illegal. She wants illegal’s treated the same as those that worked their butts off to come legally.
The United States is made up of immigrants and that is a heritage we should be proud of. But it should not be made up of illegal aliens.
If they want to come here do it the right way and stay off of welfare.
She has been for expanding welfare to illegal’s.
There are already several legitimate programs around the state that provide English instruction to adult immigrants. Garcia’s amendment to HB2140 would do nothing but increase the amount the State of Kansas already provides in funding and grants for these programs.
JWink, Scholfield’s characterization of this as ‘extra’ is accurate. Sotheysaid, if you have proof that Garcia “has been for expanding welfare to illegal’s”, feel free to post your evidence for this at any time.
JWink, you just don’t understand! To Mr. Schofield and the other members of this newspaper’s editorial board, it all belongs to the state to begin with. Then, they decide how much to let you keep.
We know this from when they talk about how much tax cuts will “cost” the government.
The businesses that hire / brought the immigrants here (by any means) should bear the entire cost of training them in required skills — including English classes.
You know, for 30, 40 bucks, you can go to Borders and buy English language lesson packs – cds, books, etc. If you realize knowing English is important to your livelihood, why not take it upon yourself to do something for yourself?
And even illegals can learn with the store-bought lessons.
Hey Dennis,How many languages have you learned from a $40 lesson pack?
Brian:
I believe that they should be shipped back to where ever they are from if they can not speak English.
It should not be up to Kansas to educate this slackers. They need to take personal responsibility.
I have a brother in law from Turkey who had never spoke a word of English until he got here along with a friend of his. They took it upon themselves to learn English on their own. My brother in law speaks better than most native speakers and he has only been in the States for about 4 and 1/2 years. His friend speaks fairly good English and has been in the States for approximately 9 months.
Crazy,That would cut down on a lot of tourism dollars for the US (even some that come to our fair city).Not going to be a popular idea.
Biran,Some German, some Spansh. I like to keep the old brain challenged. Thinking about Chinese.
Aristotle started studying Greek at age 80. Someone asked him why, and he replied he couldn’t learn it any younger.
If I can do it, anybody can.
Do you think you would be able to go to Germany or Spain and get a job with the language skills you have learned?
The investment in teaching immigrants English will pay off. The people will have more employment and education options and pay back that money in the payroll and income taxes they earn.
No Brian, but you gotta start somewhere. You can snark all you want, but I spent nearly three years in Germany and got along just fine with the German I speak.
Dennis, I think self teaching using tools like that is great. I did the same with French and was able to get by fine on a two week vacation to Paris.
However, to become a functioning member of society in a language other than a person’s native one is quite a task. It is one thing to order a latte or a cerveza but holding a job is something different.It always amazes me when I see immigrants working, studying, or whatever, here in the States. How many Americans would be able to go a non-English speaking country and tourist, let alone study or work.
I for one would not be abe to do any, i speak no foreign language.However, most foreign countries would not be accomodating when it comes to working or shopping as the US
Ever been out of the states, littlejohn? Sort of seems like it. I’ve never been to a place where they won’t sell me something. A work visa, ok, you have a point.
And Brian, lots of folks travel to, live in, study in, etc., foreign countries all the time. I have a lot more faith in the abilities of the American people than it seems you have. You and LJ ought to try some foreign travel, it really opens your eyes up.
I like the ideal of more language classes but the money spent on them should not be government funded.It is the employers that are responsible for hiring illegals, they should be the ones paying for the cost.
Wiseman,
Not everyone who can’t speak English is an illegal. Why would you imply such a thing?
You’re right Tom, our President barely speaks English and he isn’t an illegal immigrant.
Just another program designed to cost the American taxpayer to acquiesce to illegal immigrants. We need to take a stronger stand on this. ILLEGAL immigration is going to DESTROY the U.S. (it already is).
Run! Run! The sky is falling- Chicken Little
Immigrants? Don’t you mean Illegal Mexicans? If you don’t know your rights…you don’t have any! Sharon Reeves Independent AssociateCertified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialistwww.prepaidlegal.com/hub/sharonreeves
ok well i would like to here some of these immigrants tell us that they want to learn english.the ones i talk to say why should they be the ones to change they want us to change and i say you are here so learn english. but will they use is no.and how about the ones that are buying other peoples documents to work they are breaking the law so now award them and pay for english classes but fro people who are born in the us we have to pay fro spanish classes.
here we go let s give them english classes , so why dont you give us americans some free classes. oh ya that wont happen
On September 27, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced that the DREAM Act would not be considered as an amendment to H.R. 1585, the Defense Department authorization bill for fiscal year 2008.
The Washington Times reports, however, that Reid will push for passage of the DREAM Act, which would grant amnesty to millions of illegal aliens, by different means (possibly in its stand-alone form [S. 774, sponsored by Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin {D-Ill.}]) before the Senate adjourns for the year (i.e., on or about November 16).
Reid’s concession on the DoD authorization bill may doom other immigration-related amendments to the defense bill as well.
Please fax your senators: We have stopped the DREAM Act for now, but there is already a push to pass it as a stand-alone bill.
Senator Sam Brownback contact information- Taken from his web site
Office location Phone # Fax #Washington DC office 1-202-224-6521 1-202-228-1265Overland Park Office 1-913-492-6378 1-913-492-7253Topeka office 1-785-233-2503 1-785-233-2616Garden City office 1-620-231-6040 1-620-231-6347Wichita office 1-316-264-8066 1-316-264-9078
Senator Pat Roberts Contact Information Taken from his web site
Washington DC office 1-202-224-4774 1-202-224-3514Overland Park Office 1-913-451-9343 1-913-451-9446Topeka office 1-785-295-2745 1-785-235-3665Wichita office 1-316-263-0416 1-316-263-0273Dodge City Office 1-620-227-2244 1-620-227-2264
Representative Todd Tiahrt, Contact information taken from his web site
Wichita OfficeAddress: 155 North Market St.Suite 400Wichita, KS 67202Phone: 316.262.8992Fax: 316.262.5309Washington OfficeAddress: 2441 Rayburn BuildingWashington, DC 20515Phone: 202.225.6216Fax: 202.225.3489