Arizona Schools Chief Tom Horne has met his match in Attorney General Kris Mayes

Arizona schools’ chief Tom Horne vows to keep fighting against dual language instruction, saying the next move is for parents to sue.

But those who may answer Horne’s call aren’t likely to be immigrants or Native Americans whose children need that optional instruction.

Not that it matters to the superintendent, as long as he gets to impose his political views.

Parents rights be damned.

Horne says Mayes is playing politics

On Monday, Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes dealt a blow to Horne and his efforts to end dual language programs.

Horne, a Republican, had threated to cut funding to schools that keep such instruction. But, in a legal opinion, Mayes determined he doesn’t have the authority to do so.

Only the State Board of Education has that power, Mayes concluded.

Horne, of course, is huffing and puffing, accusing Mayes of playing partisan politics and not addressing his main argument that dual language programs violate a voter-approved initiative that bans such instruction without first obtaining a waiver.

“Neither the Legislature nor the state board has the power to overrule a voter-approved initiative,” Horne said, adding that the issue “will obviously be resolved in the courts.”

He only wants his view on dual language

Horne won’t give up easily.

We know he abhors any type of bilingual education and instruction, other than his narrow view of the world and his version of U.S. history.

Horne argues the best way to teach English learners, mostly immigrants, is through English immersion.

To Horne, parental rights and teachers recommendations to the contrary mean nothing — at least when it comes to bilingual education.

Dual language supporters: Plead with Horne to allow all students

There are about 93,000 English learners in Arizona, roughly 8.5% of the state’s 1.1 million K-12 students.

Nobody is forcing these students to enroll in dual language programs.

This is why we have checks and balances

Parents have the right to pull them out if they don’t like the instruction — a right that the Republican Horne conveniently is seeking to trump in his penchant to penalize immigrants and Native Americans.

Make no mistake. This isn’t just about the legality of dual language programs.

It’s about Horne getting his way to eradicate instruction in any language other than English.

Thank goodness enough Arizona voters had the foresight to elect Kris Mayes to lead the Attorney General’s Office and fight intolerants like Horne.

At least checks and balances in governing means something again in Arizona.

Elvia Díaz is the editorial page editor for The Republic and azcentral. Reach her at 602-444-8606 or elvia.diaz@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter, @elviadiaz1. 

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Tom Horne wanted to kill dual language lessons. Kris Mayes said no