Press 2 for English
Attending a State Budget Hearing in May, I picked up a copy of the Kane County's "Latest Job Postings"..Of the ten positions listed , seven stated "Bilingual, English/Spanish language skills preferred. Seven positions were in the Health Dept, six requiring bilingual skills. One position was in the Sheriff's Dept., it also required bilingual skills. The two jobs in Transportation did not have a language preference.
I don't have to spell it out what is wrong with this picture. They have changed the rules in the middle of the game, moved the goal post and given the visiting team extra points.
Since reading this report I have been making the rounds of public and private schools, upper and lower grades. On June 2, at the West Aurora Board meeting a report was given on the progress of English as a second language program. Hundreds of thousands of dollars are being spent teaching foreign students reading, writing, arithmetic and science in Spanish and English. After the Board meeting I inquired if a program was in progress to mandate that all English speaking students learn Spanish? Did they have such a report? NO. It is a one way street. Foreign languages for English speaking students is an elective subject for the most part. It is not an ongoing discipline that all students must learn a second language.
What amazed me was that the people I spoke with had not considered this to be a problem for English speaking students. It had never occurred to them.
I came away wondering if we could coordinate our military in times of war or firefighters in a disaster under these conditions? I do know that in Oregon the head of a fire brigade was dismissed because he could not speak Spanish. The team of firefighters brought in were not bilingual, they only spoke Spanish. The chief was replaced.
During a disaster you do not have the time to debate this issue. It needs to be discussed in a public forum when all sides can voice their opinions calmly.
A business should have freedom to operate to its best advantage. It will succeed or fail on its' own merits, but here we are talking about government (tax funded) positions which are being denied to U.S. citizens based on a decision by the hired help.
This is an issue that needs to be addressed now. If the problem worsens it will not benefit workers, society or our country.
Joan Solms
Joan Solms, Candidate, 83rd district Email: joansolms@att.net