Bilingual Education: Si or Non?
The truth about dual language programs.
by Vivian Manning-Schaffel
November 24, 2008
Parents in the economically diverse town of Sonoma, CA, rallied to implement a 90/10 dual language immersion program at Flowery Elementary School, which was considered ideal because of the considerable concentration of native Spanish speakers in the area.
Teacher Janine Tommasi has two kids enrolled in the dual language immersion program at Flowery and, in spite of some judgmental commentary she's heard, plans on signing up her third. "I get asked all the time why I send my kids to their school, because it's on the low socio-economic part of town," says Tommasi. "My parents are from France and all my relatives speak four or five languages, so I have a different perspective. I love that my kids don't see color, language, poor or rich."
Teri Cunningham, a mom from Brooklyn, is hoping for the same result. "The dual language program provides a broader perspective than the current No Child Left Behind test-results-focused public school system," says Cunningham. "I believe by introducing my son's curious mind to a new language, his heart will open to other cultures and I'll give him the world."
"By introducing my son to a new language, I'll give him the world."
Howard considers this kind of cross-cultural exposure one of the biggest benefits of these programs, "The development of cross-cultural competence is certainly a plus in terms of relating to other people in society."
There are more than 350 public schools in the U.S. implementing dual language immersion programs and many more starting each year. Most experts and parents agree that bilingual programs are highly desirable in today's global economy, but there are a myriad of administrative challenges in launching these programs in public schools.
The NCLB testing Cunningham spoke of can throw a monkey wrench in the growth of dual language programs in certain areas. Schools like Flowery host 90/10 programs in which students don't start reading in English until the third grade, and some of the native Spanish speakers are at a disadvantage when taking the tests, which are in English. "I sit with a dictionary and help my kids with their homework, and they see the value and importance of it," says Tommasi. "But that's not necessarily a reality for all students. Some parents might be unable to give the support in learning English at home."
©2008 Vivian Manning-Schaffel and Nerve Media
About the Author
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Vivian Manning-Schaffel has written for Parents, Parenting, The Advocate, The New York Post, Business Week and a variety of other publications. She lives and works in the heart of breeder Brooklyn with her husband and two kids. She's on the web at vivianmanningschaffel.com. |
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