Language Movement

The Official Language Movement

The official language movement is a very important Hispanic American cultural interest. Bilingualism in education and politics is a significant issue in the United States. There have been many federal policies that have become very restrictive in allowing local authorities to decide if English should be the only language used in educational methods and within political parties.

Bilingualism in education has and always will be a controversial topic. Language barriers are often a huge problem for people who consider English to be their second language (ESL). Bilingual education has positive and negative sides. The negative points are bilingual education is expensive and people who are bilingual are often stereotyped as poor or uneducated (University Of Michigian, 2012). The positive points of bilingual education are it allows immigrants to avoid assimilation by not having to learn English, the dominant language and teaching students in their language gives them equal opportunity for a good education (University Of Michigian, 2012). According to Campbell (2006-2012), “Conservative forces mobilized throughout the nation in the 1980s and 1990s to attack taxes, schools, and bilingual education. Since the 1990s, these same groups have frequently attacked multicultural education as divisive to national unity.” Some people say they are offended and believe that since immigrants are in the United States, they should conform to our standards of education as well as language.

Bilingualism is very important in politics. It allows politicians to effectively communicate with immigrants and understand some of their concerns. According to Heller (2012), “All multilingual and multicultural families want is for the world to understand that it is possible to value a multilingual/multicultural citizenry while at the same time cherishing and valuing the bonds of community and country.” In 2006, 31 states passed laws that made bilingual voting...