Published: August 1, 2000

Letters

It is laughable that Gloria Matta Tuchman says she believes in less government [ "Hasta La Vista," May/June]. Two years ago, she successfully passed a ballot initiative that took from California parents, teachers, and local school boards the authority to decide whether to use bilingual education. Tuchman spearheaded a campaign to persuade a majority of uninformed voters with little investment in education to "purge" schools of effective instructional approaches she did not support. Her initiative even includes a provision that allows her fellow teachers to be sued for noncompliance.

Gloria Matta Tuchman should not be held up as a hero or a role model. We must carefully examine the consequences of such ill-founded policies and question the motivation of individuals who use such measures to promote their political ambitions.

Jill Kerper Mora

Assistant Professor of Teacher Education

San Diego State University

San Diego