Bilingual Education

America's growing Hispanic population as well as the many other nationalities that pour into the country everyday, has for sometime now generated many issues and much debate over Bilingual Education programs.
After reading the class text book on Bilingual programs, I've come to realize that not everyone is on board with these types of programs. Some feel as if it's a waste of time and resources while most others recognize it's need and importance in the American education system. Being of Haitian descent, I know many people who have benefited from a bilingual education and if it were not for that, they would have been left behind. Why would anyone think that it's alright to leave students behind in education?

There are many bilingual programs out there: Some programs offer instruction throughout education career in both English and native tongue. ESL, English as a Second Language classes are offered in other programs, and some have implemented "a two-way language immersion program," (p.48, McNergney), where two students from both English and Spanish backgrounds are able to learn both languages by studying together.




The most obvious reason that has come up in my research (as to why some might oppose bilingual education) is prejudice. America is still America and the new kids always get's a rough welcome whether they like it or not and many of the racist population of the 50's and 60's are still alive if not, many of their children and grandchildren carry on the same mentality (even it's discrete). "Racial prejudice and the protection of realistic interests are examined as two competing explanations for Anglo opposition to bilingual education programs," (Social Psychology Quarterly: Abstract).

A bigger case for the opposition of bilingual programs, stems from it's origin. In the 1965, the Bilingual Education Act was modestly funded and was amendment to Elementary and Secondary Education. In 1968 laws were further changed and programs adjusted with the overall goal to have children become fully literate in English, by way of transition, within three years.

However, it's seems many believe that these programs become more concerned with maintaining ethnic culture. Some see it as an industry intended to segregate non-English children, whereas others believe that in practice- the notion works against the goals of bilingual education. In the 1980's, Latino opposition to native-language teaching in New York aroused because of the same reason. There also personal sentiments, such as others feeling the extra help is unfair, as they or their parents or great-grandparents came to this country and learned without any help.

 Either way, Bilingual Education is a lot more complex than I had imagined. Personally, I don't see anything wrong with it as long as the end goal is reached even it does take time. Good teachers are needed, effort by students and parents are needed as well. The help is out there for so many now, help that wasn't not there for so many others. Programs, ideas, and laws will always be abused by someone somewhere, but it's the intention and the delivery that matters. Many programs may fail, but many have succeeded I don't see why these efforts should be stopped simply because of these issues.

A Case against Bilingual Education:  http://www.theatlantic.com/past/issues/98may/biling.htm

Does Bilingual Ed work? http://www.rethinkingschools.org/special_reports/bilingual/biside.shtml

Why Should I Be Concerned About the Language-Minority Population at My School? http://www.ascd.org/publications/curriculum_handbook/413/chapters/Bilingual_Education@_Effective_Programming_for_Language-Minority_Students.aspx