FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Stacy Woods (703) 321-8818

December 19, 1996

English First Blasts Oakland's 'Black English' Program

(SPRINGFIELD, VA)--English First today denounced the Oakland (California) school board's decision last night to recognize so-called 'Black English' as a primary language which should be eligible for federal bilingual education funding as "a waste of the students' time and the taxpayers' money

"These children deserve a first-rate education, not another feel-good self-esteem program," said Jim Boulet, Jr., Executive Director of English First. "The marketplace is demanding excellent communications skills. These children are being denied that opportunity."

There have been attempts similar to Oakland's since 1977, when a group of parents sued the Ann Arbor (Michigan) school system for "Black English" classes.

"Imagine if Oakland put the same amount of effort into special programs for gifted children. Both the children and the community would be far better off. Standard English is the language of opportunity in this country. Black English classes are a waste of the students' time and the taxpayers' money," Boulet said.