Measure 58 is Bad for All Students

Every child in America should learn English. But let me be clear, Measure 58 does nothing to help Oregon kids learn English. Here are the primary reasons why Stand for Children members believe Measure 58 would be a disaster for Oregon schools:

1) One Size Does Not Fit All

    - We know that not all children learn in exactly

the same way. Their unique abilities deserve individual review, not the

mandates that Measure 58 would use to force them all into one rigid structure.   Measure 58 makes no exceptions for students

with special needs or learning disabilities. By mandating a one-size-fits-all

system for all children, Measure 58 will not allow us to meet the needs of all

students.

2) Our Communities

Know Best

·       Stand

for Children is made up of local groups throughout the state because we know

that the people who are closest to our kids in their communities are the ones

who understand their needs the best. Measure 58 would take away local control

and force every community, from Portland to

Prineville to Prairie

City , into the same

program.

3) Too Many Unintended

Consequences

·        Measure

58 is so vague and poorly written that its consequences are actually unknown.

It doesn’t say how its system would work, who qualifies for it or how it would

be implemented.   Let’s not risk our kids

to an untried and unproven scheme.

4) Expensive to Oregon Taxpayers

·        Measure 58 would cost Oregon

schools and Oregon

taxpayers $253 million in each of the first two years.   That is over a half billion dollars – a half

billion dollars out of an education budget that totals $6 billion.   This

is money better spent reinvesting in smaller class sizes, adding back lost

programs, hiring more teachers, fixing leaky roofs or buying new textbooks.

We at Stand for Children and Parents and

Teachers Know Better believe that learning English maximizes every student’s

chance for success.   The state of Oregon requires all

students to learn English, and our schools are meeting that challenge.   Measure 58 would undermine the hard work of

the teachers who instruct English as a second language and the administrators

who develop those programs for learning.  

W e don’t need another unfunded

mandate that would cost millions with no evidence it will be better for

students.  

Please side with

parents, teachers and education experts from across the state.

Please join us in

opposing Measure 58.

Dana Hepper

Stand For Children