Gingrich: Bilingual Education Must End

Possible Presidential Hopeful Says Children Should Not Learn "The Language Of Living In A Ghetto"

(AP)  Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich equated bilingual education Saturday with “the language of living in a ghetto” and mocked requirements that ballots be printed in multiple languages.

“The government should quit mandating that various documents be printed in any one of 700 languages depending on who randomly shows up” to vote, said Gingrich, who is considering seeking the Republican presidential nomination in 2008. He made the comments in a speech to the National Federation of Republican Women.

“The American people believe English should be the official language of the government. ... We should replace bilingual education with immersion in English so people learn the common language of the country and they learn the language of prosperity, not the language of living in a ghetto,” Gingrich said to cheers from the crowd of more than 100.

“Citizenship requires passing a test on American history in English. If that's true, then we do not have to create ballots in any language except English,” he said.

Peter Zamora, co-chair of the Washington-based Hispanic Education Coalition, which supports bilingual education, said, “The tone of his comments were very hateful. Spanish is spoken by many individuals who do not live in the ghetto.”

He said research has shown “that bilingual education is the best method of teaching English to non-English speakers.” Spanish-speakers, he said, know they need to learn English. “There's no resistance to learning English, really, among immigrants, among native-born citizens. Everyone wants to learn English because it's what you need to thrive in this country.”

In the past, Gingrich has supported making English the nation's official language. He has also said all American children should learn English and that other languages should be secondary in schools.

In 1995, for example, he said bilingualism poses “long term dangers to the fabric of our nation” and that “allowing bilingualism to continue to grow is very dangerous.”

Bilingual programs teach students reading, arithmetic and other basic skills in their native language so they do not fall behind while mastering English.

On voting, federal law requires districts with large populations of non-English speakers to print ballots in multiple languages.

[adian1-2009]

How can a politician who wants to become president can be so ridiculous? I hope that he wins the presidential primary. That way the defeat to Republicans will be assured. The guy is amoral --no morals at all-- in more than one way. Not only when at the time that he was having extramarital affairs was judging the morality of President Clinton. Now he is oblivious to any sense of morals in politics. What a country we have, my folks!!! Now we will have a new New Cotract for America. Take a guess, please!!

[jacksteen1]

If there ever was a doubt of this reptile's sleazy attraction - or that of the filthy band of perverts that call themselves, with no shame or irony, "the party of Lincoln," let it all come to rest today.

Newt Gingrich and the Republicrap Party represent the KKK, the Haters, the War-Mongers, the Racist White Trash of the South, the Fundamentalist cross-eyed Baptist Know-Nothings...the Gun Lobby, the Queer-Haters, the English-First Crowd...just about everybody that was home-skooled by their fat, lazy, shiftless relatives to believe in the same hate-filled garbage that he and his ilk were raised on...but NOT most Americans, thank God.

Let him rot in Hell.

[adian1-2009]

What Gingrich means is the Canada is a huge ghetto, where French and English are used. And also Switzerland. Just those two examples of two countries where quality of life is a long way better than ours. Now take Spain, our discoverers. There is Basque, Catalonian, Valencian, Galician, Mallorquin, etc. Go now to France, and there are more than one. And so on, and on worldwide. What a JERK!!!

[formrusmcsgt]

%u201CThe government should quit mandating that various documents be printed in any one of 700 languages depending on who randomly shows up%u201D to vote, said Gingrich...

Gee, you'd almost think they he'd just as soon minorities not even show up to vote, eh? I wonder which party that might just benefit?

[grazinggoat]

si senor...

[vargaspit]

Sounds like a racist republican to me. Oh wait most republicans are racist anyway. Maybe what he should be preaching is mandatory English classes to immigrants who apply for green cards. If you cant speak English NO GREEN CARD. Im sure if this was to happen majority of the Immigrants would be speaking/learning English very fast. Easy Fix to a small problem.

[klingon69]

jacksteen1;
Sooooooo;
Because I am born and raised in the South and my child is home-school, that makes me fat, lazy, shiftless???
HMMM then where have I been going every morning at 8am? I sure thought it was work...
It's seems easy for the liberal right-bashers to want to stereotype people from the south or other groups that don't fit their perfect little orwellian world image. However, they get upset and outraged if someone else profiles or stereotypes another group. What double standards.

[abbe7]

Should somebody who cannot speak English properly
be allowed to become president ? I think we have seen this happening already ...

[formrusmcsgt]

It's seems easy for the liberal right-bashers to want to stereotype people from the south or other groups that don't fit their perfect little orwellian world image.
Posted by Klingon69 at 06:38 PM : Mar 31, 2007

I have spent half of my 54 years in the south and love many things about it and have many friends there still, but you have to admit that the south is still somewhat cracker in it's politics.

[abbe7]

"It's seems easy for the liberal right-bashers to want to stereotype people from the south or other groups that don't fit their perfect little orwellian world image"

Orwellian image ? Wow ... Read again 1984 and see which administration is spying on its citizens ...

[formrusmcsgt]

Should somebody who cannot speak English properly be allowed to become president ? I think we have seen this happening already ...
Posted by abbe7 at 06:41 PM : Mar 31, 2007

Touche! I've always contended that Bush is our first "English as a second language" president.

You know the regents at Yale cringe every time he opens his mouth........

[abbe7]

"Touche! I've always contended that Bush is our first "English as a second language" president."

I wonder what his first language would be ...
McDonalds would say "I'm loving it".

[archangelric]

how soon they forget.

The treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (by which most of the southwest including California became part of the United States) specifies that English AND Spanish be the official languages of that area.

Of course, Republicans knowing of, let alone honoring our treaties and national commitments .....

[homespunlady]

JackSteen1: Please don't lump all home schooling in with your derogatory rants. I had to home school because the local Public School was by far worse.
There was open fundamentalist religious training given in spite of rules against it. Anyone that complained has been run out on a rail. I wanted to move but circumstances made that impossible. As it was drugs, alcohol, rampant pregnancy and downright illiteracy seemed to be rampant in that school. My child at 10 was telling me about her classmates having ***, where to find the local drug houses and how the "DARE Officer" was teaching them what it felt like to be high when tey wer in 3rd grade! She faced harassment until she became ill because I started asking uncomfortable questions about what was going on. I'm not religious but I do believe kids need a safe educational environment and to be taught facts not doctrine or how to become a criminal.
Yes, i've since met homeschool families I consider a bit over zealous but at least from what I've seen they are nowhere near as intolerant as what I saw at that school.

[homespunlady]

As far a Newt's comments, he has to be the perfect example of why we are despised as a country throughout the world.
Arrogant disregard for other cultures just leads to the kinds of stupid "misunderstandings" that led up to our country invading Iraq rather than maintaining focus and going after the admitted culprit OSAMA BIN LADEN.
Knowing the language of the people you have to deal with is not only polite but safeguards aginst looking stupid and being lied to right in front of your face.

[ramos937]

In the 1990's, we had a Republican running for governor. He had an excellent chance until he started making similar statements as Ginrich plus he also made the statement. "if a woman is being raped, she should just lie back and enjoy it". When he was soundly defeated by Ann Richards, he was honest enough to state to reporters,"boys, I shot myself in the foot and when the gun was empty, I reloaded and kept doing it". Ginrich had better just realize that he offended arguably the larger minority voting bloc in the country. Anybody who gives him a donation is just wasting his money.

[hawksprings]

homespunlady, you're off your rocker.

If you want to be successful in America you need to learn English.

We didn't become the greatest country in the world by multiculturalism and Balkanism. We became the greatest country in the world by being a melting pot and our ancestors learning and mastering ENGLISH.

Get over it.

[homespunlady]

and that attitude is exactly why we didn't have enough interpretors before 9/11 to catch and translate all the traffic talking about what was about to happen.
"Know thine enemy" includes their language whether it's a latin language in the southwest, Iraqi in that country or Chinese in business dealings with them. We are at SEVERE disadvantage because we arrogantly refuse to understand it's to our advantage to learn more and we'll hands down LOSE by glorifying ignorance.
The Japanese laerned that when the Navaho could transmit freely in in the pacific theater during WWII. Who needed secret codes that could be cracked when your enemy doesn't even know your language??

[homespunlady]

HawkSprings:
There is NOTHING in my posts against English. English is a variable language. I tend to speak a Midwestern variant of it. What part of England are you from that you're such a purist?
Ignorance is NO Excuse and forms around here are almost all in American english. If you want a different form you have to ask they may or may not have one in the back room.
The world is not our tiny corner anymore.
I expect it'll keep getting smaller and computers can only translate so much good luck dealing with it.

[formrusmcsgt]

If you have a problem with it you have two choices. Either learn English, or go back where you came from.
Posted by nikosk1 at 08:20 PM : Mar 31, 2007

Speak for yourself, bigot.

[formrusmcsgt]

Try to rewrite history all you want, buddy, but the kkk and bryd are all yours. Check history fella,
Posted by janem4 at 08:46 PM : Mar 31, 2007

It seems you're a bit behind on YOUR history, janem4. Byrd renounced his association with the Klan over 50 years ago.

Boy, are you desperate or what?

[thenamesdave]

To those linking Robert Byrd and the KKK with the Democratic Party. "Dixie Democrat" history only exists because Lincoln, a Republican, ended slavery.

Let's stay on topic.

[oaktonvagirl]

Mr Gingrich should refer to President Clinton's Executive Order 13166 that mandates Federal, state and some local documents be printed in as many languages as necessary. If Federal funds are involved, this EO requires multi-languages. Several members of Congress have been attempting to repeal this EO, but cannot obtain enough support. It is a disgrace that more and more products are printed in english and spanish. I hate having to push 1 for english and 2 for spanish. Congress should pass the english is our official language amendement and end all this foolishness, it is a tremendous waste of money and does not help our spanish speaking residents. Enough is enough. This is America, now learn english!!!

[realpatriot1]

Lets say hypothetically that Gingrich were to get his way and schools were to teach english only. While these kids are learning english, how are they supposed to learn math and science,etc.?

Kids would fall far behind their english-speaking classmates and would end up failing. Is that what we want just so people uncomfortable with other cultures can have a one size fits all 1950s world?

I'm a little sick of the implication that this is a european only country. It's not and never has been.

[toldyouso21]

To those linking Robert Byrd and the KKK with the Democratic Party. "Dixie Democrat" history only exists because Lincoln, a Republican, ended slavery.

Let's stay on topic.
Posted by thenamesdave at 10:17 PM : Mar 31, 2007


After the Civil Rights movement, it is well known that the racist portion of the Democratic party defected to the Republlicans. So you see a neo con, it is highly likely the little Nascar lover is also a racist, bigot, gender bashing---and now you can add the ugliest attributes of agood ol' boy to get a more complete picture. When Republicans talk about the racist side of the Democrats, they fail to acknowledge that those types fled that party when the Democrats pushed for more tolerance and they found an eager and fertile home in the GOP.

anybody remember the willie Horton, or McCains 2000 campaign or the Tennessee campaign of 2006--which party playus the race card and promotes racism--here's a clue: their name starts with Republican....LOL

[bobgee_1999]

formrusmcsgt: Of course janem4 is deperate, or just doesn't know much about Civil Rights era politics---probably both. Taking a few facts out of context is an act of desperation. Sure the Dixiecrats voted against the Civil Rights Bill of 1964---still, it not only passed, but LBJ, a Democrat, signed it into law. Yawn. So much for that.

[tbweb]

I never thought I would see the day when we are debating which language to use in the United States! Is everybody serious? You become an American you learn and speak English, end of story. This is a b-u-l-l-s-h-i-t issue!! The American advantage is a common currency, common borders between states and a common language! In the military no one should have to figure out what was said on the battle field in combat situations! First they want to come to America illegally 20 million strong, then they want to pay for Pizza with Mexican money, then they want to keep their language and not learn English! I don't agree with Newt's ghetto attachment and we should not get distracted by that because its not the main issue here, the main issue is Americans speak English and that's it. You want to speak another language go home or to the country you came from! Get me a break!!

[wa_dem]

Newt Gingrich is wrong. I'm bilingual. My kids are bilingual. We speak German. Understaning additional cultures is very important to us. Mr.Gingrich is trying to tackle the issue of assimilation, but apparently he is not smart enough, and is mistakenly attacking bilingual education instead. What this country really needs to do is start funding bilingual education more aggressively. Newt, and what is left of his party should focus on balancing the budget, and completely forget all other aspects of their disturbed, pathetic, racist and anachronistic social agenda.

[jebby_one]

What a stupid comment.
Does he think that speaking Spanish limits one's economic or cultural opportunities?

Multi-culturalism enriches America and the people who can live in more than one culture. People wo wish to live in just one culture can pick whichever culture best suits them.

My ancestors spoke mostly French for 150 years after becoming Americans. Some of my cousins still speak French. My Spanish ancestors spoke Spanish for 200 years after becoming Americans. Some still do.

My French and Spanish speaking colonist ancestors stood on every battlefield in America's history, from the Revolutionary war on. They weren't required to speak English to give their lives for America.

Newt should go be a Democrat. That's where the bigots gather. He is no conservative. Conservatives believe in the fundamental value of the human spirit to be free. That's what AMerica is all about.

[jebby_one]

The culture issue cost the Republicans the last elections. It wasn't about Iraq.

[whatithink-2009]

I have heard IDIOTIC comments, but that has to be BY FAR the most IDIOTIC I've ever heard.

In a world of increased GLOBAL COMPETITION, why on earth would it be wrong to know more than one language? How does that limit opportunity?

[whatithink-2009]

What does being bilingual have to do with learning to speak English? Most people who are bilingual speak better English than those who only speak English. When you learn more than one language, you increase your understanding of languages in general.

- What an idiotic, bilingual hate mongering, adulterous hypocrite! Il est mechant.

[crater7]

WOW! YOU CAN TELL ITS APRIL 1:

SOUNDS LIKE A GOP PEP TALK THIS MORNING,

Honest and Honorable.

Republicians believe in the fundamental value of the human spirit to be free.

My personal favorite, The Republicians lost the last election because of culture issues.

Did I mention Honorable and Honest?

"APRIL FOOL"

[realpatriot1]

jebby_one,

I've criticized you in the past, let me congratulate you on a terrific, articulate, and passionate post.

I agree 110% with everything you said except the last paragraph...obviously. Let's hope all Americans can reject narrow-mindedness and welcome diversity.

[whatithink-2009]

Jebby_One wrote:

"Conservatives believe in the fundamental value of the human spirit to be free."

- This makes no sense by definition.

Conservative, by definition, means "disposition in politics to preserve what is established. A political philosophy based on tradition and social stability, stressing established institutions, and preferring gradual development to abrupt change."

Liberalism, on the other hand, means "a political philosophy based on belief in progress, the essential goodness of the human race, and the autonomy of the individual and standing for the protection of political and civil liberties."

I took these from the dictionary to avoid being accused of misrepresenting either.

Which ones of the two sounds like it supports the human spirits quest to be free?

[samrensho]

Hey, we've got a president who can't put two sentences together unless someone writes them out for him and he rehearses for a week. Bilingual education is great. Education is great. Just look to the whitehouse to see the lack thereof.

[elz523]

Gingrich is saying whatever it takes to cozy up to the cons. He admitted to an affair while prosecuting Clinton for lying about having an affair. Nice to get that out of the way early.

What is amazing, truly amazing, is how the religious cons are playing live and let live with him like no one else. Dobson, the biggest religious con, is falling all over himself saying what a swell guy ole Newt is.

This is just Gingrichs' way to score points with the racist cons.

[antoniof123]

I have many friends from different parts of the world and they all speak English in fact every place I travel they speak English it is on signs in Airports even in Siberia. The difference is these people are not US citizens so hate groups like the neocons pust to exterminate them. I now tell all of my foriegn friends get your citizenship because these types are just like the Nazi's that my mother rememebers they are a danger to the country and to the world. It is time that we started to move forward again. We tried this hate and it is now a proven fact that it does not work.

[kemetorigin]

When exactly did enriching your knowledge through learning other languages--thereby stimulating your brain and providing greater opportunity become a threat to America. This is really sad. These politicians are creating unrealistic fears to gain noteriety and promote divisiveness on non issues. Many other nations have "official" languages, but that does not preclude enriching your life with learning. Learing second and third languages should be encouraged.

[tbweb]

Newt Gingrich is wrong. I'm bilingual...
Posted by WA_DEM at 03:58 AM : Apr 01, 2007

--WA_DEM

I think a few people posting here are missing the point and misunderstanding Newt Gingrich's intent and message. Newt Gingrich is talking about bilingual education in the context of one set of American Students learning English in the classroom and another set of American Students learning Spanish or other languages in the classroom instead of all American Students learning one official language, English! Newt Gingrich or no American for that matter cares how many languages an American learns as long as English is the primary official language in the American education system and everyone learns and knows English first. The point is the English language must be learned and not avoided.

[fridak-2009]

Newt Ginrich is as disgusting as George Bush. What a pile of ***...

[iceman_1960]

"We should replace bilingual education with immersion in English so people learn the common language of the country and they learn the language of prosperity, not the language of living in a ghetto," Gingrich said to cheers from the crowd of more than 100.

I'm sorry, but this is ignorant hate speech. Gingrich should be arrested for a hate crime.

To call Spanish, a great and ancient language with a great literature, a language spoken around the world, as "ghetto talk" is just pure hatred.

Gingrich should be arrested and charged with a hate crime.

[grumpas]

Who has turned us into a ghetto Mr Gingrich???? The Republican party has!

[iceman_1960]

If Gingrich actually knew what he was talking about, the term he would have used was "barrio," not "ghetto."

He is one ignorant motherf**er.

[realpatriot1]

Didin't inhale,

Bilingual means being able to speak 2 languages, it doesn't mean learning only Spanish-it does mean learning English!

[iceman_1960]

George W. Bush should be getting bilingual education.

"English as a Second Language" would benefit him greatly.

[tbweb]

--realpatriot1

There is nothing wrong with bilingual education as long as English is on the menu and understood to be the primary language. Learning other languages is a plus for Americans and just another class like any other class of interest.

[michellem99-2009]

I was born in the US of A. I learnt to read,write,talk in,english at home,school and the like. Years ago everything was printed in english only. I know that there is pros and cons here, I do feel that as a nation english is use in our scools,businesses etc. In the home you can use both but in public english. As a blind person I met a Mexican blind person and she used english to talk to me. I am for a nation who can talk to each in english. It not my business what is said in your home but in public if you know english then please use and learn it if you wish to live here. You want to become American,please use english and the more you do you will feel american. This has nothing to do the article but who we are. I am just an older american having my say.

[realpatriot1]

tbweb,

I totally agree with you that English should be on the menu and be the primary Language. I know there are plenty of cases where Spanish only becomes the norm. If we need to make improvements in how Bilingual Ed is being implemented that's one thing. For Gingrich to advocate eliminating it is another. Calling Spanish the language of the ghetto is just plain rascist and ignorant.

My problem isn't with you or others raising concerns about how biligualism is working and wanting people to learn English. My problem is ambitious politicans who prey on those concerns and lead us down a path of intolerence.

Spanish-speaking kids need to learn English before they can learn any other subject taught in English. How does Gingrich expect them to learn other subjects while learning English if they aren't taught bilingually? Since when are extensive course offerings and educational choice a bad thing?

[whatithink-2009]

Realpatriot1,

Also to mention that the NEOCONS like using inflammatory race baiting language when speaking to their constituents. I assume because most of their constituents are inflammatory racists.