Basic knowledge of Spanish needed

My native language is French (I am from Brussels, Belgium). Living in the U.S., as an American citizen, I consider it essential to speak English properly. I agree completely with your excellent editorial about improving the teaching of English in our schools for non-English speakers. Every American must speak good English.

However, I also feel that, in Arizona, with a large Spanish-speaking population, and Mexico right next to us, it behooves us to take full advantage of that opportunity to teach Spanish in our schools.

We should not live linguistically, economically and culturally isolated lives. A good basic knowledge of Spanish as a second language would benefit all Arizonans.

I feel that nobody in southern Arizona should be allowed to graduate from high school without a thorough knowledge of English, nor a solid basis in Spanish.

It would make us all stronger!

Jean-Paul Bierny, M.D.

Tucson