True American

“True American by Rosemary Salomone is a valuable contribution to this growing field of research. In it, the author skillfully weaves a narrative of U.S. legislative history affecting language education into a solid rebuttal of the numerous myths about bilingualism on which the relevant laws and bills have been premised...Anti-immigrationists brandishing the mythical “problem” of bilingualism continue to fuel vitriolic debates, while reactionary legislation reasserts the prominence of English in education and public life. This, Salomone concludes, is to the detriment of U.S. authorities that have hitherto ignored heritage–language speakers as a potential solution to problems in national security, international trade and the U.S.’s geopolitical standing.”—Darren Paffey, Times Higher Education

“True American provides teachers of immigrant students with a vision of an American identity and education that includes language, civic engagement, and a common historical memory.”—L. Lockard, Choice

“True American provides an insightful and engaging analysis of debates over language policy in schools that are at the heart of concerns about immigration. Salomone shows that views about immigrant schooling and language in the past are too often romanticized myths. Looking at the present, she sheds light on the complex ways that language policies and educational practices are linked to notions of identity.”—Nancy Foner, Hunter College and the Graduate Center, City University of New York

“True American should be required reading for those involved in educating the children of immigrants. How can we make sure that they learn English, and still maintain parents’ support for their schooling? A further complication is the demand in the world economy for multilingual Americans. Salomone offers wise responses to all these concerns.”—Kenneth Karst, Professor of Law Emeritus, University of California, Los Angeles

“True American is an impressive synthesis of cultural and legal history, social science research, and literary understanding that look at immigration and the politics of language, language education, and debates about multiculturalism. It uses anecdotes and stories, as well as research, to offer a lively account of the deep issues behind the headlines.”—Martha Minow, Harvard Law School

“American attitudes toward languages other than English are full of contradictions as we absorb non-English speakers into our stubbornly-monolingual society. We claim that the foreign-born don’t learn English, when the loss of the native language is a more widespread problem. Legal scholar Rosemary C. Salomone is among our most astute and thoughtful education observers. In True American, she proves to be an exceptional listener as well.”—Michael Olivas, University of Houston Law Center