Politics & Education

Politics, and policy are the tools used by those with power that have shaped our world for centuries. Typically it is those with money that control and hold the power, from health to education. One example topic of education is bilingual education, and to specify, we are going to take a look at a figures within the English only movement era, who attempted to use their power to end bilingual education.

Senator Hayakawa, was a Canadian born American of Japanese descent, who worked hard to become the senator of California. He was a controversial figure to some, he was against the Civil liberties act of 1988, which gave reparations and apologies to Americans of Japanese descent who were interned in WWII. He was also famous for being committed to constitutionally amending English the official language of the United States, thus affecting bilingual education directly.

Hayakawa argued that Bilingual Education inhibited the learning of English because in actuality it confused the education process for students. The stereotypical anxieties, displacement and fears of higher income families were used affect the topics. Although Bilingual Education was not completely destroyed, it was significantly damaged, losing around 47% of its funding, thus affecting its policy making in an unfavorable way.

Another affect of Hayakawa's policies and goals was that the English only movement alienated more voters than it attracted by the 2000's for the Republican agenda. The purpose of Bilingual Education is to Increase English language skills, maintain and hopefully increase Native language skills, and support native culture and heritage—thus promoting and developing cultural relationships. This ideal purpose of tolerance, Bilingualism, multiculturalism and progression is still the goal of Bilingual education, but sadly by 2001—the Bilingual proficiency goal was eliminated.

Yet, as history has shown, those who have the real power are the many united, not the powerful few. Bilingual education still lives and survives, it is built out of a higher purpose to educate for a better and successful future. The world isn't an ideal place, but personally I have all the confidence in society to do the right thing when needed, and I hope the progression never ends.