For Immediate Release: April 10, 1998

Unz No Show for Bilingual Education Debate

Ron Unz, lead sponsor of the anti-bilingual education initiative Proposition 227, failed to appear at a debate at the University of Southern California, the second time in two weeks at forums on the initiative across the state.

"It looks like to me and others that Unz doesn't want to defend what he must know is an unsound, unworkable proposal," said Stephen D. Krashen, professor of education at USC, who attended the debate. Krashen was scheduled to debate Unz last Friday at California State University, Los Angeles, but Unz again was a no-show, sending in his place Henry Gardillas, a former high school principal, who also filled in for him at USC.

Prop. 227 would virtually eliminate bilingual education in the state, allow teachers to be sued over a students' English learning, and use an untried method of giving students 180 days to learn English.

"People of California are starting to see how foolish Prop. 227 is and want to confront Unz with some tough questions. I guess that's why he's not showing up," said Francisco Ramos, a student at USC and a bilingual education teacher. "We want some answers."

In recent weeks, Unz has faced strong opposition from audiences who are knowledgeable about education. "I think he's giving up on people who know enough to see through his distortions," said James Crawford, a writer who debated Unz March 31 in Santa Rosa. "The Sonoma County educators and parents repeatedly challenged his failure to produce any evidence to back up his claims. Unz could only respond with anecdotes and insults."

"Bilingual education can be improved, like most other areas of education, but this is not the right solution. We need experienced educators and researchers to seek the solutions, not a businessman with no teaching experience," said Lucy Tse, professor of education at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.