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Resolution
Supporting English Plus for
the State of Florida
WHEREAS,
LULAC strongly
opposes all legislation that designates English
as the official language of the United States or
of any individual state, and LULAC supports
bilingual education to ensure English
proficiency while encourage students to retain
proficiency in their native language. English
language acquisition is imperative, but
bilingualism and multilingualism are assets to
be valued and preserved; and
WHEREAS,
LULAC advocates
that English languages learners shall receive an
equal quality academic education with equal
quality materials as native English speaking
students. Such education shall be provided by
properly credential teachers; and
WHEREAS,
the “English Plus
Concept” promotes the addition of a second
language without forfeiting one’s mothers tongue
fosters the suggestion that “additive
bilingualism” creates “a language competent
society” in which both limited English
proficient individuals and native English
speakers will be able to develop fluency in a
second language while simultaneously developing
reading and writing skills in the home language;
and
WHEREAS,
it took the
Supreme Court in 1923 to strike down laws in
over twenty states which made “English Official”
and prohibited the teaching of other languages
in schools. That such “English Only”
legislation was reprehensive to the basic laws
of our nation was made clear by Justice
McReynolds, who wrote for the Court in Meyer vs.
Nebraska (1923) U.S.390; and
“The protection
of the United States Constitution extends to
all, to those who speak other languages as well
ad to those born with English on the tongue.
Perhaps it would be highly advantageous if all
had ready understanding of our ordinary speech,
but this cannot be coerced by methods which
conflict with the constitution – a desirable end
cannot be promoted by prohibited means”;
WHEREAS,
legislating of an
official language will not produce “better
citizens” or make them feel “more American”. On
the contrary, the efforts send ethnic
communities the message that it is an American
to be actively bilingual and that the desire to
maintain ties to one’s cultural and linguistic
heritage is unpatriotic. Paradoxically, the
stated objective of the “English Only Movement”
to foster unity and nationhood by legislating of
a common language is having the opposite
effect. Entire communities have split
ideologically along racial and languages lines;
and
WHEREAS,
this nation was
founded on a commitment to democratic
principles, and not on racial ethics, or
religious homogeneity, and has drawn strength
from a diversity of languages and cultures and
from a respect for individuals liberties; and
WHEREAS,
multilingualism
has historically been an essential element of
national security, including Native American
languages in the development of coded
communication during World War II, the Korean
War, and the Viet Nam War; and
WHEREAS,
multilingualism
promotes greater cross-cultural understanding
between different racial and ethnic group in the
United States and specially in the state of
Florida; and
WHEREAS, “English
only” measures, or proposal to designate English
as the sole official language of the State of
Florida, violate traditions of cultural
pluralism, divide communities along ethnic
lines, jeopardize the provisions of law
enforcement, public health, education, and
others vital services to those whose English is
limited, impairs government efficiency, and
undercut the national and state interest by
hindering the development of language skills
needed to enhance international competitiveness
and conduct diplomacy, abrogate constitutional
rights to freedom of expression and equal
protection of the laws, and contradict the
spirit of the 1923 Supreme Court case Meyers vs.
Nebraska; and
WHEREAS,
the Florida State
constitution, article II, section 9 (1988)
states “(a) English is the official language of
the state of Florida (b) The legislature shall
have the power to enforce this section by
appropriate legislation; and
WHEREAS,
LULAC Florida
Board and its District strongly opposes this
Constitutional amendment of (1988) and any
provision or legislation to that effect.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED,
let it be resolved by this LULAC Florida State
Assembly (State Board concurring) that -
(1)
The assembly gather here by a majority of
votes understand the necessity of requesting, to
LULAC National Board, via resolution, expressed
herein, to intervene and provide LULAC Florida
State Board resources to ascertain the issue
presented here, and submit to the state
legislature a bill that would repeal any
legislation that may mention “English Only” as
the official language and present a
Constitutional amendment of “English Plus” in
order to conserve and develop Florida’s
linguistic resources by encouraging all
residents of the state of Florida to learn or
maintain skills in languages other than English.
(2)
Assist other people indigenous to the
United States and the state of Florida in their
efforts to prevent the extinction of their
languages and culture.
(3)
Continue to provide services in languages
other than English as needed to facilitate
access to essential functions of government,
promote public health and safety, ensure due
process, promote equal educational opportunity,
and protect fundamental rights and recognize
the importance of multilingualism to vital
American interest and individual rights and
oppose “English Only” measures and other
restrictionist languages measures.
Presented and
signed this May 23, 2004 at Tampa, Florida by,
Jose A. Fernandez
Deputy State
Director/District III, Director LULAC Florida
State Board.
Adopted this 10th day of July
2004.
Hector M. Flores
LULAC National President |
