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the material. In addition, teachers grade papers for "content" rather than form. California schools use a curve to assign grades. If the whole class does poorly, it takes fewer correct answers to receive a specific grade. Students, like most of the human race, will perform to the level expected of them. It does not take a student long to figure out which classes do not require a high test score for a high grade.

In our attempt at equality, they do not require teachers to be proficient in the English language. I have dropped college classes because the teacher was difficult to understand. When I was in grade and high school in Arizona, they required good grammar in every class. California only requires good grammar in English classes. In all other classes, they grade papers only for content. The nonverbal message to students is that English grammar is only important in English classes.

When a student enters our school system, they should give the student a crash course in English and a defined time limit to become proficient. The student could then be placed into regular classes without adversely affecting the rest of the student body. The message we are currently sending is that the non-English speaking student is not bright enough to learn English without spoon-fed help. This message is wrong; students will perform to the level expected of them.

They should view Learning English as simply another skill, not a slap at ones heritage. This is no different from learning how to dress to succeed in business, or learning which fork to use at the dinner table.

Learning the language of your country is a concrete demonstration of the desire to become a fully participating citizen of the country. Refusing to learn the language sends the message that one is willing to accept all the benefits of citizenship but none of the responsibility. This attitude alienates those willing to take on the responsibility of citizenship.

Author, James Baldwin, made the following observation. "The making of an American begins at the point where he himself rejects all other ties, any other history, and himself adopts the vesture of his adopted land."

We spend an inordinate amount of money on printing official documents in languages other than English. A person must be proficient in English to become a citizen of the United States. Why then do we print ballots in languages other than English? This money would be better spent on more classes in English for non-English speaking persons. Often classes

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