Honoring Richard Ruiz and his Work on Language Planning and Bilingual Education

Richard Ruiz’s influence on the fields of language policy and language education has been immense. His scholarship was always especially elegant and insightful. It was also, crucially, always grounded in social justice and a related commitment to effecting positive change for bilingual and minoritized students. His untimely death has robbed us of not only a great academic but also a remarkable person. But this is all the more reason why this collection is so important, because in reading it we can still clearly hear his voice, see his vision, and understand the significance, reach and influence of his work.

* Stephen May, University of Auckland, New Zealand *

This book is both a tribute to a remarkable man and a passionate call for social and educational change. Richard Ruiz was a quiet and persistent leader in education research and theory. The volume advances his theories through the reproduction of his own pieces and the publication of those who studied and worked with Richard over many years. The volume is his legacy to the field and will be a treat and an education for all who read it.

* Elizabeth Birr Moje, University of Michigan, USA *

Expertly and affectionately choreographed by Nancy Hornberger and other colleagues and former students, Richard Ruiz emerges from these pages not only as a brilliantly original scholar but also as a passionate advocate for equity and an inspirational, warm, and funny friend and mentor.

* Jim Cummins, University of Toronto, Canada *

[Richard's] legacy is not limited to scholarship in language planning and bilingual education, as this book’s title aptly suggests. In addition, it is the memory of Richard’s modest wisdom and tenacious humanity that gives us strength to resist structures that disempower. I, for one, am thankful that this memory manifests as an edited resource, in which such strength is available to access and share. Poised to act and teach, future generations of Richard’s students are waiting, patiently.

-- Adam Schwartz, Oregon State University, USA * Language Policy (2019)