Writer confuses language study with bilingual education

Editor:

Letter writer Michelle Lewis, who apparently feels qualified to home-school her children, completely misses the point regarding the teaching of the Spanish language in Columbia County schools (letter, June 2, "Politically correct school board seeking bilingual education).

Referring to the School Board as politically correct for promoting Spanish, Lewis asks, Why isnt German, French or Latin offered for K-eighth? She implies that Spanish is being taught in the school to make it easier for those whose families first language may be Spanish. The writer is confusing bilingual education with the offering of a Spanish-language course.

With the exceptions of Brazil, Quebec and Haiti, Spanish and English are the two major languages of the Americas. The school board is to be commended for emphasizing the teaching of Spanish. The mastery of that fairly easy-to-learn language may well provide many opportunities in the future for our young students.

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Studying Spanish does not merely give the student a list of words; it also allows the student exposure to the interesting cultural differences and similarities between the Anglo and the Latino.

Also, while the student studies Spanish, he or she will probably find that the intricacies of another language are a great help in mastering English.

Gene L. Rickaby

Martinez