Monday, March 20,|
imenl
et 16’
OPINION
londay, March 20, 2000
THE BATTALION
Page 9
gsHiP
Regional# Second round Firttitu
.
.
The classroom of Babel
University of Missouri plan to require English proficiency for professors full of benefits
H;
md a lot more depthik
e had since I've beeju
your best team isn’t
am that wins,” theft
:h said.
a St. 75, PepperdineC
onzen scored 21 poia
eded Oklahoma Stait
i close game in the
ns added 18 points (tt
state (26-6). Brand
led Pepperdine (25-
ts. Pepperdine was 7-t
oint range, while Okl
made half of its Mat
nston-Salem, N.C.
Kansas 64
id a career-high eight
ts for Duke (29-4) in
he Blue Devils’ victor'
hampionship game,
ade the go-ahead fc
seal coach
50th NCAA touritt
’ yow did you do in physics?’
Well, 1 got a C, but con
sidering the fact that I
inldn’t understand a word the prof
tid, that is pretty good!”
This conversation may seem outra-
eous, but it is not as uncommon as
ne would like to believe. Frequently,
campuses all over America, there
re professors and teaching assistants
hose English is so poor the students struggle to decipher
te words, let alone comprehend the material in the course.
Recently, the University of Missouri has taken action to
revent their classes from being plagued by this ridiculous
tuation by proposing a new rule making it mandatory for
achers to be tested for English proficiency. It is time that
II schools in this country take a stand on this issue and
revent poor communication skills from tainting their
lasses any longer.
Anew Missouri state senate bill states that the institution
mid evaluate "each member of its instructional faculty
rhodid not receive the majority of both of his primary and
econdary education in a program in which English was the
rimary language.”
The testing would analyze the oral and written fluency-
ad determine each individual’s skill in the English lan-
ttage. The idea is that all schools would be required to eval-
ate their teachers through a testing process and determine
rhether their skills are sufficient for the classroom.
In a review of oral English proficiency policies in U.S.
igher education, there were many questions raised about
te validity of these standardized test as well as the narrow
bcuson language rather than the classroom teaching
irocesses. The “classroom teaching processes” are exactly
are at stake here. The teaching is going on, but it is of
io benefit to the students if they cannot understand the
tticr had 21 points, eislfords being spoken or used.
Students often find themselves paying so much attention
Dthe actual words, in trying to interpret the poorly used
nglish that the concepts in the lecture are completely lost.
)n the issue of the validity of the testing procedures, it
eems that with any test of this nature it should be obvious if
.5 seconds left and stolf lie teacher is qualified. And if there were any question or the
d’s pass 29 seconds lai :acher was borderline, it would seem that this would not be
Miki be level of instructor desired for an educating position.
One argument brought up against these types of new laws
Es the idea that “there are civil rights questions about policies
rich had 12 points I That require certification of only one group of faculty” (for
0).
example foreign faculty members). Howev
er, these rules do not violate anyone’s
civil rights. It is wonderful that America
opens its doors to so many foreigners and
attempts to equalize all cultures and
backgrounds.
But while foreigners deserve to be
equal, language barriers will always sepa
rate foreigners from those whose primary
language is English. These actions are not
intended to discriminate — they are in
tended to provide the best education for
students in American schools.
Diversity is an important American goal
and a hot topic on the Texas A&M campus,
but sometimes the efforts to diversify a par
ticular situation tend to result in negative ef
fects. By hiring teachers from different
countries, it appears that students could be
taught the material of the course as well as
be exposed to a diverse environment that
will teach them to be more culturally aware.
Although this idea seems like a nice
one and completely supports the Vision
2020 plan, when professors and teaching
assistants cannot speak English proficient
ly, not only does this plan fail — it fails
the students. After performing poorly on
their exams, students become even more
hostile or less accepting of these people’s
cultures than before.
Although Missouri is definitely on the
right track, their fiscal plans for implement
ing this rule are inadequate.
The provisions of the new rule explain
that the testing for English proficiency
shall be done at no cost to the instructors.
The testing will cost $225 per person and
will total over $960,000 for the University
of Missouri in its first year of faculty eval
uation. Many occupations require workers
to take license tests at the cost of the indi
vidual, and there is no reason why this sit
uation should be different.
Still, the state of Missouri has advanced further than
many in the faculty english proficiency issue, and soon
their schools will begin to benefit from it.
This problem should not even be considered an “issue.
is inexcusable that these instructors were allowed into Amer
ican schools in the first place.
This does not mean that there should not be efforts
made to provide an environment that is culturally diverse,
but in America, English is the predominant language for
JEFF SMITH/The Battalion
communication, and for teaching to be effective it must be
gin with clear communication.
Melissa Bedsole is a sophomore
general studies major.
3, Illinois 76
i Brett Nelson had
iree steals to help Florl
to the final 16 for tilt
ht year.
)rs (26-7) are 4-
ament play under coack]
an, who succeeded Lot
' .
Iranian government offers
chance for better relations
wing his departure
:easons ago.
ler led Florida with
Bradford had 27 poi
SOUTH
rmingham, Ala.
rolina 60, Stanford53
loseph Forte hit two host
the closing minutes
forth Carolina (20-13).
ished with 17 poin
lecisive 10-0 run a
lis effort with a gait
tided 10 assists, seven'
even rebounds to ht
:1s record their 3C
ctory season,
seley scored 17 poii
tal (27-4).
65, Connecticut 51
•is scored 18 points
Tennessee (26-6) tot*
El-Amin’s ankle injur) 1 '
vas largely ineffecti'*
ies (25-10). He scorft
ints, and took just t" :|!
inutes.
F or the past half century,
the Middle East has been
the most volatile place on
lie planet. This region, which
las exhibited the stability of
ell-0, has sucked the United
Hates into its continuing melo-
irama on several occasions.
Mien the category of Ameri-
: an allies in the region comes
for
nations such as Saudi Arabia and Israel are usu-
% mentioned, while the foes include Iraq and
Once upon a time, though, Iran was not an
American foe, but a staunch ally.
Those days may be approaching again, if the
United States plays its
ards right. For the sake
ifAmerican foreign poli-
iy and peace in the Mid-
UeEast, it had better.
is currently undergo-
ng major changes, and
lie United States must be
repared to help if asked.
The Islamic Republic
(Iran is usually thought
(by the average Ameri-
an citizen as a nation in-
a bunch ofls-
ashville, Tenn.
Cincinnati 61
y had 16 points and*
16 rebounds for 1
id we play down^
sa coach Bill Self Sh
erri fic team even
There should not be* 1 ,
: this.”
eal had 16 points ^
for Cincinnati (29- i
tcher, starting in
d 13 points.
Ohio St. 62
msley scored 24 poi 1
set third-seeded 01
ice to the round of
ne.
:r added 20 points
3), and John Saln^
lie Penn led Ohio St*
) points, eight in a
n after Miami had
ead.
MARK
PASSWATERS
Iran is currently
undergoing major
changes, and the
United States must
be prepared to
help if asked.
imic radicals. While leaders such as the late
lyatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and current spiritual
:ader Ali Khameini do not help to dispel this no-
there are others who do. Nearly half of Iran’s
opulalion, according to the United Nations, was
otbom when Iranian “students” held members of
te United States embassy hostage 20 years ago.
bey are growing tired of the totalitarian religious
(stem in their nation, and their votes at the polls
low their desire for change.
The current President of Iran, Mohammed
Ihatami, is considered a moderate in Western cir-
les.He supports the loosening of Islamic law in his
ation as well as increasing the rights of women,
i lehas also sent out signals that he is ready to make
Intends with the United States.
There could be no better time for the U.S. and
an to resume diplomatic ties then now. It would
rove to be of great benefit to both nations. Iran is
nation that has a large oil reserve, yet sanctions
revent the importing of Iranian crude to the
nited States. With skyrocketing gas prices
I, neatening to disrupt the booming economy, the
S. could use the threat of Iranian oil to make
jjji ^rest of OPEC increase their production, caus-
'S the cost of oil to drop.
It would also be in the interests of American for-
jjii '^policy to achieve a rapprochement with Iran.
anti-American terrorist organizations have
received support from Iran in the past, and a thaw in
relations might place a stranglehold on their activi
ties. Many of the supplies that are used by the Saudi
bom terrorist Osama Bin Laden (based now in
Afghanistan) are smuggled in through Iran. In
creased policing of the Bin Laden network by Iran
could also make it more difficult for him to operate.
The Clinton administration wants to see a bind
ing Arab-Israeli peace settlement before its time in
Washington is up. Clinton is obsessed with improv
ing his legacy as President. Being remembered as
the President who brought peace to the Middle East
would, in his view, be far better than being remem
bered for the statement “I did not have sexual rela
tions with that woman.” One of the first steps to
wards achieving such a peace
calls for Israel’s withdrawal
of its forces in Lebanon.
The Israelis have started
to pull out, but fear increased
attacks from Hezbollah, an
Iranian-backed terrorist
group based in South
Lebanon. Israel has threat
ened strong retaliation
against any attacks, which
would almost certainly de-
stroy any chances at peace in
the near future. A “sugges
tion” from Iran might cause Hezbollah to think
twice before killing innocent civilians.
Khatami and the Iranian government can also
benefit from making nice with the United States.
Quite simply, it could be the difference between
surviving and a firing squad. While Khatami is
very popular among the general public, Shiite
Muslim clerics are strongly opposed to his re
forms. The clerics — Ayatollah Khameini in par
ticular — also are in control of the military and
the Iranian secret police.
If Khatami moves too quickly with his reforms
and has no international backing, his odds of sur
vival are minimal. If Khatami receives the endorse
ment of the United States, as well as the tacit sup
port of other Persian Gulf nations, his chances of
survival are greatly increased.
From the end of World War II to the fall of the
Shah in 1979, the United States and Iran enjoyed a
very close relationship. While the relationship has
grown far chillier in the past 20 years, a mending
of fences would be of great benefit to both nations.
Both leaders would get something they want
— President Clinton would get a chance to go to
Chappaqua, N.Y. happy, while President Khatami
would get a chance to simply keep going.
Mark Passwaters is a senior
electrical engineering major.
Trying to make sense of the census
I n case you haven’t received notice yet.
Census 2000 kicked into high gear last
week. Answer this question to see if
you’re ready for it:
What is the method for taking the cen
sus? Option one: You fill out a survey the
government sends you and send it back. Op
tion two: At some point this week all the fire
alarms in the country will go off simultane
ously. Every citizen will then proceed out
side and line up single file while a census
worker goes down the line, tapping each per
son on the head in rapid succession as he or
she counts, to make sure everyone’s there.
People talking receive detention.
No, you don’t have any lifelines left.
The answer is option one. But like you, I
see the appeal of option two.
Flowever, it’s too late for that. Most of
the population receives its form between
March 13 and March 22. Knowing how
much the public likes telling the govern
ment how much money it makes, the cen
sus braintrust launched an aggressive ad
vertising campaign using Sopranos-like
subtlety. You may have seen some of these
commercials.
In one ad, a distraught couple looks on as
the local fire department struggles with what
1 believe is a manual water pump mounted
on a horse-drawn carriage. Failing to draw
enough water, the firefighters give up as the
house bums to the ground. A smug voiceover
says, “Oops, forgot to fill out the census.
Don’t leave it blank.”
The obvious moral of the story is that
your census form is made of paper, which
constitutes a fire hazard if left lying around.
Also, the advertisement threatens that not
filling out the census may cause your com
munity to lose federal funding and revert to
an 1850s infrastmeture.
In another, we observe the clotted halls
of Any Public School until we arrive at a
broom closet. The closet’s door opens, re
vealing a class of 15 students and a teacher.
The message is simple: If you’re a janitor
and you don’t fill out the census, you might
be out of a job. I think it’s tailored to a little
too specific a population, but I’m not paid to
make these kinds of decisions.
Clearly, the Census Bureau desperately
wants everyone to take them seriously and
wait at the mailbox for the form to arrive.
One suggestion to increase participation that
it explored and rejected was to make the cen
sus into a sweepstakes. I’m a little worried
over what that says about us as a country.
In all seriousness, I think the census is im
portant and everyone should fill it out.
But if you didn’t trust the government be
fore, I’m a bit alarmed if you’ll sell out the
family to the government for a chance at a
Cuisinart.
At any rate, the Census Bureau, syndi
cate, whatever, might as well stick with the
bullying ads. I suggest taking them a step
further with the slogan, “Census 2000: Fill
it out early and fill it out often.”
Which brings us to actually filling out
the census.
The questions always serve as a source
of controversy. For example, Libertarians
maintain that you only need to answer the
question regarding the number of people in
the household, per the constitution. So Bill
Maher, Dennis Miller and your crazy
eighth-grade shop teacher likely will hand
in mostly blank surveys.
For the record, the Census Bureau asserts
that every question is required by law and if
they have to, I think they’ll crack skulls.
The census is a pretty short task, at least -
for most of us. The standard census form
has only seven basic questions. A lucky one
in six of us (there’s your sweepstakes) gets
a long form, asking more personal ques
tions. Of course, some of these questions
make people pretty nervous.
I’m only quoting rumor here, but I be
lieve the following are some of the questions-
People in the house?
Party people in the house?
How much money do you make?
What is your PIN number?
Are you a citizen of the United States?
Would you tell us if you weren’t?
What sex are you?
Are you sure?
Do you watch Public Television? (The
question lacks a “yes” answer).
Are you still using drugs?
Personally, 1 don’t see the need for most
of these questions, and I’m scared to know
how they all relate.
But they are government mandated, so if
you’re not a Libertarian, be a good citizen
and fill them out.
David Wallace is a columnist for The
Michigan Daily at the U. of Michigan.
Six-year-old shooter
a victim, not a killer
in response to Jill Riley’s Mar. 8 column.
Everyone should be tolerant when
listening to another’s opinions, but tol
erance does not imply agreement or
acceptance of ideas. Constructive criti
cism is the ideal response to differing
opinions, but often emotion leads to
less civilized and inappropriate retorts.
McCain and Keyes showed
hypocrisy when dealing with the Bob
Jones University situation, but in the
end the university “got what they need
ed.” They had a long - standing policy
against interracial dating on campus
and after the press reamed them for
MAIL CALL
their racist policy it was reversed. I’m
still trying to understand the state
ment, “The warning against interracial
marriages is not about the couple, but
about the one world system.” Yes, this
is one world we live in and there is
nothing wrong with interracial relation
ships.
When comparing the criticism Bob
Jones University received to Texas
A&M’s Bonfire experience, it is true our
school did get criticized and mocked at
a time we needed to be consoled.
However, in the end we have been
forced to see some of the very serious
dangers that were involved in the
event. Had it not been for the negative
criticism from around the nation, we
might not have revealed all the details,
which can, and in the past, have been
omitted. I don’t agree with the mocking
of the pain we felt, but “sometimes
the end justifies the means.”
Patrick Plate
Class of ’01
The Battalion encourages letters to the editor.
Letters must be 300 words or less and include the
author’s name, class and phone number.
The opinion editor reserves the right to edit let
ters for length, style, and accuracy. Letters may be
submitted in person at 013 Reed McDonald with a
valid student ID. Letters may also be mailed to:
The Battalion - Mail Call
013 Reed McDonald
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX
77843-1111
Campus Mail: 1111
Fax: (409) 845-2647
E-mail: battletters@hotmail.com