Comments on: What happens when “bilingual education” backfires

By: meeshlr

meeshlr — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 06:28:57 +0000

Here in Canada, parents can choose to put their children into French immersion classes. It’s believed that immersion is better than “Core French” for becoming bilingual.

Bizarrely, the school system seems to believe that the same is not true for immigrants. Immigrant children are removed from their classes for up to half of each school day and sent to another school (by taxi!) for ESL classes.

By: Melvin_Udall

Melvin_Udall — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 21:43:58 +0000

parent-teacher meetings, homework and other notices gave no sure sign to them that the 5-year-old spent part of school time learning alongside Spanish speakers with limited English proficiency. It is unacceptable that the parents allowed this to take place. All that time without any interaction with their child about what happens during the school day??? That points to the biggest problem this country faces with our schools. Lack of parental involvement is killing us. Yes, bilingual education is a mistake. Classes should only be titled and run as Road to English classes, with as little Spanish spoken as possible. But this example runs much like the recent SChip child shields; the example is part of the problem.

By: mattsanchez

mattsanchez — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 17:29:25 +0000

This is disgusting, I went through a similar situation. Billingual Education Half Empty

By: supersean

supersean — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 15:15:46 +0000

As an American working in a Spanish speaking country (Ecuador), I can tell you that surprisingly the tables are turning. In my daughters’ school and in most public and private schools here, English is the primary language taught starting in kindergarten.

I think an appropriate strategy for legal immigrants is a short term (1 semester) English immersion program but not years of ESL

By: Bilingual Education Persecution » Freedom Folks

Bilingual Education Persecution » Freedom Folks — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 12:39:19 +0000

[...] Oregon Live (H/T Michelle Malkin) For more than a year, a Latino boy who speaks only English sat in his classroom confused by what [...]

By: gunslingerpatriot

gunslingerpatriot — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 12:06:59 +0000

feebiebabe-
Nice family policy that you had, and I remember getting in trouble with the military because of a situation where a Sailors that didn’t understand English were having problems following basic directions in medical in taking their medications. When an HM would speak in their language they understood it fine.

Sadly thats dangerous when it at anytime a person could be put on a hose team to fight a fire, and if a person can’t understand English-then the teams in trouble if we had to evacuate a space quickly.

By: TMoney

TMoney — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 10:44:32 +0000

Don Miguel said:

Yes, but are the looks because your Spanish is so bad?

My bad espanol esta mucho better than their non-Ingles. But that ‘par’ was a typo. I’ll wear my T-shirt anyway, and admit that my Spanish really sucks.

By: T J Green

T J Green — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 09:50:31 +0000

ESL experts are, clearly, shipdits.

By: Bill's Bites

Bill's Bites — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 05:20:38 +0000

2007.10.18 Politics and National Defense Roundup …

Quick hits:…

By: maisy

maisy — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 04:10:45 +0000

You think that’s bad…did ya here about the Maine school giving out birth control to middle school children???? Do you get the feeling that the world is spinning OUT OF CONTROL!!!

Panel to consider birth control prescriptions at middle school
By
Tuesday, October 16, 2007 – Bangor Daily News

By: Don Miguel

Don Miguel — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 03:49:43 +0000

Gracia par no hablar espanol.
I love the irony of that. And I get lots of interesting looks at the restaurants.

Yes, but are the looks because your Spanish is so bad?

By: garyt

garyt — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 02:01:08 +0000

Does Mexico have bilingual education in their school system? I think not and of course university students can take English classes as an elective. I am bilingual but do not speak Spanish in front of non-Spanish speakers but most illegals seem not to want to learn English. They must feel that English won’t be used in a few years anyway.

By: blues

blues — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 00:55:00 +0000

“educators are not fully trained in distinquishing learning disabilitiesfrom limited English speaking skills”.Kind of says it all to me.

By: JohnHolliday

JohnHolliday — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 23:52:34 +0000

See how the socialist educrats are playing CYA? They’re saying Alek has a learning disability, so they couldn’t tell he spoke only english.

The only learning disability any student has is having to go to a public school.

By: 24Klady

24Klady — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 23:14:20 +0000

IMHO – the time spent by non-English speaking youngsters in Headstart and pre-school could be utilized to totally submerge them in learning enough English language skills to place them in regular classes starting in 1st grade. The need to feel part of the group will encourage those same children to learn and excel. We’ve thrown billions away trying to teach as many as 70 different languages in our publicly funded institutions. Any parent that speaks English and refuses to pass on those skills before their children start school should have to pay an additional fee/tax for their lack of insight. It’s a form of child abuse.