English Learners

Bilingual Ed. Critic’s Comments About Paige Spark Racism Charges

By Michelle R. Davis — August 07, 2002 2 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Bilingual education opponent Ron K. Unz tried to explain his words early this month after finding himself in hot water for questioning the qualifications of Secretary of Education Rod Paige, indirectly linking that appraisal to Mr. Paige’s race.

But the California businessman stopped short of an apology for calling Mr. Paige, in an e-mail, the “dimmest member” of President Bush’s Cabinet and saying the secretary was hired because he is black.

Ron K. Unz

“I’d be the first one to admit my comments were quite, quite insensitive,” Mr. Unz said in an interview. “But everything in that e-mail is based on what I’d learned in major-media articles.”

In a follow-up e-mail Aug. 1, Mr. Unz said it appeared Mr. Paige’s position in the Cabinet represents “tokenism” because Mr. Bush does not permit the education leader much influence. In the same note, Mr. Unz expressed surprise at the strong reaction and number of news articles his words prompted.

Mr. Unz’s initial comments, sent July 15 to hundreds who receive regular electronic updates from him, raised the ire of a variety of groups and individuals, who labeled Mr. Unz a racist.

Some say his statements could hurt his continuing efforts to replace states’ bilingual education classes with one-year English-immersion programs. Mr. Unz has had success in California and Arizona, where he financed ballot initiatives to largely dismantle bilingual education. Now, he’s promoting the English-immersion approach in Colorado and Massachusetts.

Voters in both states may consider such a measure in November.

“Mr. Unz discredits himself and risks discredit to his cause with his ton of discourse,” Darnell L. Williams, the president and chief executive officer of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, said in a statement. The group opposes Mr. Unz’s ideas on language instruction.

Mr. Unz’s first e-mail was sent after Secretary Paige appeared in Colorado and, in effect, publicly opposed Mr. Unz’s ideas.

The e-mail noted that Mr. Paige is a “black former football coach” and said he got his job because of President Bush’s “intense support for ‘Affirmative Access.’” The lengthy missive also said Mr. Paige’s “lack of ability” meant that he “played virtually no role” in the administration’s key education measure, the “No Child Left Behind” Act of 2001.

Return Fire

In the wake of the e-mail, Mr. Unz was blasted by a long list of groups and public officials, including the National Council of La Raza and Colorado Commissioner of Education William J. Moloney. The chairman of Mr. Unz’s Massachusetts initiative, Lincoln Tamayo, also distanced himself from the comments, as did Massachusetts Republican gubernatorial candidate Mitt Romney, likewise a supporter of the Unz proposal.

On July 18 and Aug. 1, Mr. Unz sent new e-mails seeking to clarify his comments.

Mr. Paige has not responded directly, but Department of Education spokesman Daniel Langan called Mr. Unz’s statements “outrageous and insulting.”

“The secretary is an award- winning educator with a record of achievement as a dean, a coach, and a school board member, and as superintendent of one of our country’s largest school districts,” Mr. Langan said.

A version of this article appeared in the August 07, 2002 edition of Education Week as Bilingual Ed. Critic’s Comments About Paige Spark Racism Charges

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Mathematics Webinar
Engaging Every Learner: Strategies to Boost Math Motivation
Math Motivation Boost! Research & real tips to engage learners.
Content provided by Prodigy Education
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Student Well-Being Webinar
The Ripple Effect: Mental Health & Student Outcomes
Learn how student mental health impacts outcomes—and how to use that data to support your school’s IEP funding strategy.
Content provided by Huddle Up
Artificial Intelligence K-12 Essentials Forum How AI Use Is Expanding in K-12 Schools
Join this free virtual event to explore how AI technology is—and is not—improving K-12 teaching and learning.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

English Learners How Schools Build Dual-Language Programs for Less Commonly Taught Languages
Researchers highlight some of the unique solutions to challenges faced when teaching in less commonly taught languages.
5 min read
Third grade teacher Ambreen Bhatti leads a lesson at Allen Jay Elementary School in High Point, N.C., on Jan. 28, 2025.
Third grade teacher Ambreen Bhatti leads a lesson at Allen Jay Elementary School in High Point, N.C., on Jan. 28, 2025.
Rachel Jessen for Education Week
English Learners Spotlight Spotlight on Supporting Emergent Bilinguals
This Spotlight will explore strategies to best support English learners in their language acquisition and academic success.
English Learners Video How Translanguaging Works in a Dual Language Program
Students in a N.C. dual-language program learn core subjects in both English and Urdu, preserving heritage and boosting bilingual skills.
1 min read
English Learners Who Will Support English Learners? Experts Warn of Crisis
The U.S. Department of Education's reduced staff and eliminated the office of English language acquisition as a standalone agency.
8 min read
Photograph of a classroom of English learners at their desks with paper and digital tablets.
iStock/Getty