“ ‘Friendly amendments’ that improve Question 2”: The Globe is also referring to the ‘status quo’ -- as in the ‘discredited status quo’ of bilingual education. However, let’s be careful about the ‘friendly amendments’ to the Question 2 English immersion law. We’ve already seen what happens when lawmakers attach ‘friendly amendments’ to voter-approved Clean Elections, tax cuts and the popular MCAS reform. Such ‘friendly amendments’ are usually a legislative form of friendly fire fratricide. Mitt, keep your veto pen handy. ...

State Rep. Marie St. Fleur of Dorchester does have a good idea: Permitting families of kindergarten students ‘the option of putting the children directly into mainstream classes.’ The reasoning: Children have the amazing ability to effortlessly absorb two languages. ... Exactly. I know of an American-Swedish couple here in the Boston area. The children speak Swedish at home; English outside the home and at school. The kids speak both languages fluently. So Rep. St. Fleur, good idea. However, even this ‘friendly amendment’ needs close scrutiny, for another ‘friendly amendment’ can always be attached to a ‘friendly amendment’ to provide bilingual teachers to help out ‘just in case,’ blah, blah, blah ...  ¶ 8:36 AM