CALL TO ACTION

National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME)
733 Fifteenth Street, NW - Suite 430. Washington, DC 20005 - Website: www.nameorg.org

CONTACT: Jill Moss Greenberg, Executive Director - Phone: (202) 628- 6263
Fax: (202) 628-6264 or e-mail: name@nameorg.org

Maryland's governor, Robert Ehrlich, calls multiculturalism "bunk."

The Maryland Governor, Republican Robert Ehrlich, made the statements saying "multiculturalism is bunk" in the article below - which was published in the Washington Post last Saturday (May 8). It reflects the deep misunderstanding and strong opposition that many in the current administration - in Maryland and in the national administration - hold toward multiculturalism, multicultural education, and educational equity.

Ironically, the article appeared on the same day that Maryland NAME was holding its annual statewide multicultural education conference, attracting nearly 400 educators, school Board members, and Superintendents of Schools addressing substantive issues pertaining to multicultural education, building cultural understanding and respect, and closing the achievement gap.

Teaching Tolerance notes that Maryland is a state that has a population that is 10% foreign-born and 38% "minority", and has over 12% its households where a lanaguage other than English is spoken at home. This statement was made by Maryland's Governor, but it represents a significant national issue.

There has been a large outcry, particularly from Latino groups and a few state legislators and other elected officials. Despite this, the Governor and Comptroller (former Governor William Donald Schaefer) say that over 90% of the responses that they have received have supported their positions.

We encourage you, and your groups and networks, to let the Maryland Governor know what you think about his statements - and about the importance of multiculturalism for our country. Please review the original article, below, and then contact Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Governor Ehrlich's contact information is:

E-mail address: governor@gov.state.md.us.

Phone number: 410-974-3591 or 800-811-8336

Snail Mail address:

Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr.
Office of the Governor
100 State Circle
Annapolis, MD 21401-1925

You can find the article at The Washington Post.