Ygorl

my comments in red




One of the fathers of bilingual education in the U.S. says the program is failing immigrant students – and actually preventing their integration into American society.

For millions of youngsters, bilingual education has been a bridge to nowhere, producing shockingly high dropout rates, social Balkanization, and shattered American dreams.

Frustrated parents and voters have begun to fight back against bilingual education approaches that put kids last.

When bilingual education became federal law in 1974, "We expected students to be in bilingual classes for only a year or so," former New York Congressman Herman Badillo, chief author of the 1974 legislation, tells NewsMax.

"But we put no limit in the bill. We never suspected that a bilingual lobby would emerge that would keep students in bilingual classes for two, four, six, or eight years!"

When Badillo moved to the U.S. from Puerto Rico at age 12, he spoke little English. He learned firsthand the difficulties youngsters face when plunged into speaking English, a difficult languages to master. But more painful for Badillo was learning bitter lessons later as an idealistic Democratic politician, and as the first Puerto Rican elected to Congress, about the selfish ways of progressive special interests.


"Instead of helping students learn English, bilingual education became monolingual education in Spanish," Badillo says.

And because school policies of "social promotion" advanced students without regard to their mastery of curriculum, "many graduated high school barely able to read or write in any language," he says. "Bilingual education often produced bi-illiteracy."


Yet another idea sold to us by idealistic liberals that is failing miserably. As always, their ideas SOUND wonderful (idealistic). Reality almost always proves them naive and with unintended negative consequences. Which they are able to easily dismiss. They were unintended. Even though there were those WARNING them of these consequences BEFORE hand.


Bilingual Education Is Getting an F

Izzibeth

Education in this country is failing in general... not just teaching languages. I'm kind of confused about this article. Other countries don't seem to have a problem teaching their children more than one language in schools... so... what's wrong here? The program itself? Or the way it's being handled (along with the rest of education programs in America)?

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Ygorl

It's MY opinion that the general failure of Americas education "system" has to do with the fact that our GOVERNMENT has it's fingers in it.

So, it might BE that part of the problem is the way it's being handled. Put some ignorant ass bureuacrats in charge of MOST things and they get FUCKED up completely.

Izzibeth

I agree that our education system is a mess.. but I think there are many reasons for it besides just government eff ups. This country does not put value on being smart... it puts value on making money and spending money. You don't have to be particularly smart in this society to make money. This is where it all breaks down.
Once we fix the fact that kids float through school thinking that they just have to sell that one hit rap CD, or make it big on American Idol, or become a big football star.... then we might see a change. If you don't put value on getting an education then the whole system will fail regardless.
Nothing wrong with trying to teach kids more than one language.. but you can't expect that one part of the education program to work while the rest is crumbling around it.

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Sebelius for VP, not Hillary

What is the definition of bilingual education? Is that like teaching US history in Spanish? Or is it merely just teaching Spanish as one class?

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Forum Rule 3: Discuss the Issue, not your opponent.

presluc

Sorry, Thane but although I have made no secrets about being a Democrat,
I agree with you on this bilingual mess.
This is America we speak english or American here, somtimes poorly but a born and raised American can understand most of the time.
My point is if I moved to Mexico I wander how many schools would have an english speaking teacher teaching spanish to my kids {that is if I had any}
If you go into mexico city to get a job and you don't speak spanish to your employer are you going to demand them to learn english or are you going to learn spanish?
Learning a differant language in America should be a choice not a requirement.

presluc

We have American chidren in America that can not read and write English let alone a diiferant laguage.

Izzibeth

Exactly. The whole thing is a problem.

However, I believe that learning a different language or having a second language requirement is a good thing. Other industrialized countries have this requirement... why shouldn't we? Learning another language is very mind-engaging and is a great exercise for the brain if nothing else.

Anyway, my point is that you need to fix the whole education system before you go worrying about how bilingual education has taken a dive. It's just a small part of a bigger problem.

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Sebelius for VP, not Hillary

I'm inclined to agree. Hope I'm not putting words in Thane's mouth, but I think Thane would say that we just shouldn't teach history in Spanish anymore (if that's what we are doing) but then what happens when the kids don't understand what you're saying?

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Forum Rule 3: Discuss the Issue, not your opponent.

Ygorl

Very good point(s). What you're saying is that our society is partially at fault here. Which I agree with. We've become a pretty hedonistic and narcissistic culture. This IS a good part of the problem.