Bilingual education plan draws supporters, critics.(Proposition 203)(Brief Article)

Halting discrimination in Arizona's public, school system is what those who champion English for the Children, or Proposition 203, hope the initiative will accomplish.

Detractors, however, say the measure blocks the autonomy of state schools.

"We want to get Spanish-speaking students to learn English as quickly as possible," said Mary Mendoza, chairman of English for the Children of Arizona, the Tucson-based task force behind Prop. 203. "The bill will abolish bilingual education. When students are instructed in only Spanish, they are not getting the English they need to continue their education."

Prop. 203 requires all public school instruction be …