Changes to the initiative would require a vote of the people or a two- thirds majority by the Legislature and signature by the governor. The religious fervor that prevents rational discussion of property-tax cutting Proposition 13 of 1978, or of Proposition 98, the special river of tax money for public schools, demonstrates what happens when voters sanctify an initiative. Change is almost impossible. They could even have the kind of program Unz wants. This is the sort of approach that local control advocates could be expected to support, but they rarely allow themselves to do so.
Many conservatives see bilingual education as another form of multiculturalism.
And in political terms, that takes a backseat to local control. It is not that backers of bilingual education have entirely pure motives, either. There are union jobs at stake here. But it is worth noting that the California Teachers Association backs the Alpert bill, as does the Association of California School Administrators. The bill has already passed the Senate and could reach Wilson's desk.