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The Statesman Journal: In November, voters in the state will be asked to decide on an initiative that would limit the amount of time English-language learners can be taught in their native tongue. The initiative has attracted people from both sides of the bilingual education aisle and has even divided the Hispanic community. "This is not against Hispanics," Bill Sizemore, who crafted the initiative, said about the petition. "It's not anti-immigrant in any way, in fact, it's the opposite." He said the initiative was needed to help stop school districts from sidelining immigrant students in six-year bilingual courses, rather than teaching the students English so they can succeed in this country. Aeryca Steinbauer, the statewide coordinator of CAUSA, an immigrant-advocacy group in Woodburn, rejects those arguments. "What Bill Sizemore has done is create a one-size-fits-all model that takes local control of these programs out of the hands of teachers and parents and puts it in his hands," Steinbauer said. Like Steinbauer, opponents of the initiative argue that English as a Second Language programs give many English learners the chance to study key subjects and develop critical thinking skills before they are able to master English.
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