English sought as official language, but teaching lags

“Spanked as a child for speaking Spanish at his segregated Rio Grande Valley school, Texas Rep. Rubén Hinojosa contends that efforts to make English the country’s official language are harmful, divisive and would only fan anti-immigrant sentiment.

“English as the official language has been a code for official discrimination,” the Mercedes Democrat said Wednesday during a House hearing that examined proposals to enshrine English as the only approved language. “I experienced it myself.”

But others attending the hearing by a House Education and Workforce subcommittee voiced concern that assimilation of newcomers is flagging and that immigrants aren’t embracing American culture as heartily as previous arrivals did.”

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