Election '08

Board is in agreement: Measure 58 puts pressure on students

Melissa Orr
The Advocate

Ballot Measure 58 in the Nov. 4 Oregon election mandates that after a maximum of two years of studying in an English as a Second Language (ESL) program, students would be expected to take all of their remaining courses in English.

This ballot measure does not affect English-speaking students taking a foreign language.

Measure 58 affects ESL students in all grades of education.

A “yes” vote would prohibit teaching a public school student in any language other than English after the time allotted.

The time limit varies for different age groups, but does not exceed a maximum of two years, and could be as little as one year for some age groups.

There is debate whether Ballot Measure 58 would affect the allocated funds that each school with an ESL program receives. The amount a school receives depends on how many students are in the school’s ESL program.

According to a press release from the MHCC District Board of Education, the board reviewed the ballot measure and encouraged voters to vote “no” in opposition to Measure 58.

“The board recognizes that the one-size-fits-all approach in Measure 58 would be bad for all Oregon students,” said Board Chair Duke Shepard in the press release. “One of the many unintended consequences of this measure is that it will impose artificial deadlines on learning, leaving many students unprepared for college.”
The press release said that this measure would likely increase high school drop-out rates, placing even greater demand on the college’s GED (general educational development) and Adult High School diploma instruction, which would place greater demand on MHCC’s limited resources.

ESL instructor Amy Widger said, “My fear is if Measure 58 passes, then they (ESL students) wouldn’t have a foundation to be prepared and not coming into college with high enough literacy skills.”

“Two years is really not enough to learn English,” said former ESL student Jean Lackey.

According to Widger, the main issue would be setting a time limit on language and not adjusting to an individual’s needs. Research shows it takes about five to seven years to learn a language.

“It’s not going to meet the needs of the students,” Widger said.

There is also an estimated financial impact for implementing Measure 58.

“This measure will require additional school spending between $203 (million) and $253 million in each of the first two years. The cost may change in later years, depending upon the number of non-English speaking students in public schools, and their academic performance over time,” said the overview of ballot measures at www.oregonvotes.org.

Those in favor of Ballot Measure 58 say that total immersion in the English language would be more beneficial for ESL students, and believe the current methods of teaching English to ESL students are not working and are responsible for the current drop-out rates among ESL students.