There's much talk in the blogosphere today about a new Pew Hispanic Center report that says almost all Hispanic adults born in the United States to immigrant parents speak fluent English, even though most of their parents do not. Surprisingly, many Progressives see the report as bad news, giving credence to those who want to make English the primary language
Critics like Eric Crafton, who have pushed English-only bills in Nashville, have said immigrants are too slow to adopt English and that government should not subsidize them with public information provided in languages other than English. Those assumptions are wrong.
Not only are the children learning English well, creating future generations that will also speak the language, but "the surveys also find that Latino immigrants are more likely to speak English very well, and to use it often, if they ... have spent many years here," according to the report. So, given time, the parents become English speakers as well.
Those coming to America know they need to learn English.The Pew study also found "Hispanics believe that
insufficient English language skill is an obstacle to their acceptance
in the U.S."
We have often said here that education is the magic bullet that lifts people up and gives us all better lives. Clearly children are benefiting from the educational system, learning the skills needed to thrive in American society and helping their parents acclimate to the country. The critics want immigrants to become part of our society and that's exactly what they're doing -- it just can't be done overnight.
In the meantime, it makes sense to provide non-English support to parents. By making it easier for them to gain jobs and provide stable households for their children, we're helping them become part of the country. If we make it more difficult for parents, and by extension more difficult for their children, we're only interrupting a process that clearly is working.
- Jim Grinstead
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