ENGLISH TOUTED AS OFFICIAL LANGUAGE TO BIND COUNTRY

Children in the United States should learn English before any other language, that was message Friday from Rep. Bill Emerson's chief of staff, Lloyd Smith.

Smith addressed a meeting of the Southeast Missouri English Teachers Association at Southeast Missouri State University. The meeting coincided with this week's release of the "Standards for English Language Arts," a publication of standards compiled by the National Council of Teachers of English and the International Reading Association.

Smith said Emerson agreed with much of the publication that was three years in the making, except the standards' encouragement of a bilingual curriculum.

"We want to make sure this country's common bond is language," he said, "and English binds our diverse people."

Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau, is a primary supporter of House Resolution 123, a bill that would make English the official language.

The United States hasn't ever had an official language in its 200-year history, so why have one now?

As the cultural diversity of the country grows, Emerson thinks that designating an official language becomes essential to maintain clear, precise communication. Making English the official language would also limit the number of government forms printed in other languages.

Although the bill, dubbed U.S. English, wouldn't totally eliminate bilingual ballots, the bill would encourage people to learn English in order to fully participate in the democratic process, Smith said.