Eliminate Bilingual Education Essay, Research Paper
Eliminate Bilingual Education
One half of United States children who are not proficient in English live in California, a state who’s future depends on these three million children becoming fluent in English. In 1968, the Bilingual Education Act was passed with the theory that if you academically instructed students in their native language first, learning English would be better and faster in the long run. Since the passage of bilingual education, there has been a continuing debate over whether or not the programs are benefiting children. Although there is not any research to support this conclusion, bilingual advocates believe that “bilingual students who first master Spanish and then make a transition to English, do at least as well academically in the long run as their English-only counterparts” (Netkin 1). Supporters feel that even if students are not gaining in English, the programs keep them from falling behind in content areas and also boost their self-esteem, which gives them the confidence to catch up later. The search for some proof that the five hundred million dollar industry works to help immigrant children learn English, in order to prosper in a California society, continues with little success.
For decades throughout California, bilingual education has been commended as a miracle for schoolchildren who are not proficient in English, but the programs have been proven to be unsuccessful and should be abolished. Research indicates that bilingual programs are not helping children, but instead are bringing about high drop out rates and low test scores. There have been many struggles to educate children in bilingual programs. Teachers and instructional materials are hard to find, which makes instruction in academic subjects to the great number and mix of children difficult. Highly transient students and the inability to involve parents in their children’s education present a barrier to instruction. Bilingual programs require great amounts of money that California taxpayers should not have to provide because taxpayers should not be responsible for teaching immigrants the American language. Proposition 227 was passed in June of 1998 that was to eliminate bilingual education and place children with limited English proficiency into classes where English is the only language spoken. This new law will enable California schoolchildren to succeed in America and taxpayers will no longer have to provide for a program that “actually keeps children from learning English, the language of their future, and hinders success in American society” (McCain).
“63% of research shows no difference between bilingual education and doing nothing” (Research Evidence of Bilingual Education 4). Each year, only five percent of the bilingual schoolchildren gain English proficiency. Scores on comprehensive tests reveal that students who move from bilingual classes to English-only classes are unable to perform. Latino children in bilingual classes “end up not speaking either Spanish or English well” (Netkin 2). They have the highest dropout rate, forty percent, of any ethnic group and have consistently scored the lowest on Scholastic Assessment Tests. Instructing children in their official language and not teaching them English is making the children unable to succeed in society. Since this is an American country, children should be placed in English speaking classrooms in order to learn the language of the dominant group.
Educating children in bilingual programs is difficult. Schools cannot provide the proper bilingual instruction because teachers and materials are limited or unavailable. Students speak languages that are not historically represented in the United States so bilingual teachers and materials for the languages are nonexistent. Even in schools where all students speak Spanish, teachers are hard to find and have to be recruited from Spanish speaking countries. However, sometimes the immigrant teachers cannot be certified to teach because they lack a college degree or simply cannot pass the English portion of a state teacher certification test. The California Department of Education estimates that about twenty-two thousand bilingual teachers are needed for instruction and studies predict that filling the need may be impossible. Bilingual education cannot provide children with the instruction needed to prosper in California so the programs should be eliminated.
Immigrant students are highly transient which makes continuous instruction difficult. New students arrive to schools on a monthly basis, contributing to overcrowded classrooms that make teaching complex. Existing students move frequently or are regularly absent for long periods of time, disrupting their learning. Often times, students with excessive absences from school cannot be promoted to the next grade level or graduate, which makes the children discouraged and leads to them dropping out of school. Transient actions effect a student’s ability to receive an education, contributing to the failure of bilingual programs.
Parental involvement is important for student achievement, but extreme struggles arise when trying to involve parents in their children’s education. Many parents are illiterate in their native language as well as English, making communication impossible. Translators are used successfully, but for uncommon languages, very few translators are available. Parental self-help classes are provided to parents who have trouble communicating. The classes have taught parents how to help their children in school, but several problems with parent involvement remain.
Without the five hundred million dollars a year that taxpayers provide to the federal government, bilingual education programs would not exist. Why should the taxpayer be responsible for immigrants learning the American language? Before entering this country immigrants know that English is the dominant language, therefore, they should be responsible for learning the language themselves. By not knowing English and being unable to communicate effectively, newcomers are only hurting themselves. Taxpayers should not be responsible for educating immigrants. Learning English should be the responsibility of the person seeking to speak the language.
Proposition 227 was passed to eliminate bilingual education. Children with limited English proficiency are to be placed into English-only classes where their native language is never spoken. This practice is called English immersion, a non-taxpaying system that will push children toward the quickest path to success in America. Students will learn English better and faster by being around the language all-day and everyday. The quicker they learn the language the sooner the students will be able to join in with their peers and develop an education.
Although Proposition 227 was passed in June of 1998 to eliminate bilingual education, the programs remain in schools. “In Redwood City, south of San Francisco, the school district reports that eighty percent of Spanish-speaking children are still enrolled in bilingual” (Michels). Many other schools have confessed to not eliminating bilingual classes. The schools feel that the children need to be transferred to English-only classes slowly in order to avoid student confusion. Bilingual supporters feel that the programs give children self-esteem and a better education. This is absurd. Separating children from others because they cannot speak English makes them feel insecure and different. If anything, the students loose self-esteem and pride, making learning difficult. Bilingual programs are a failure and schools should obey the law and abolish the instruction. “The students will gain whatever added self-esteem they need when they develop proficiency in English, the language in which their peers are learning, and the language that they will need to succeed in the United States” (Netkin 1)
Другие работы по теме:
Bilingual Profile Essay Research Paper Christian January
Bilingual Profile Essay, Research Paper Christian January 22,2K1 Bilingual Profile Good afternoon, my name is Christian. I was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico on February 2,1981. I am currently studying my second year at the University of Puerto Rico?s Mayag?ez Campus , and I am pursuing a Bachelor?s degree in Political Science.
Multiculturalism Essay Research Paper MulticulturalismOur country was
Multiculturalism Essay, Research Paper Multiculturalism Our country was founded on the belief in freedom. This freedom was meant for everyone. When our country was founded, many different cultures existed on our land. We abused other cultures because we did not understand them. The United States today is much different.
Handguns Essay Research Paper All handguns must
Handguns Essay, Research Paper All handguns must be banned because they are the cause (s) of many deaths amongst the people of the world today. Gun violence result in fifty percent of today?s tragedies. Handguns causes too many deaths, the government need to make gun less accessible, and the law/law enforcement need to really enforce the laws they make.
Aids Essay Research Paper AIDS is probably
Aids Essay, Research Paper AIDS is probably the most known and most deadly disease in the nation and probably in the whole world. It is a disease that strikes anywhere, anytime, and anyone. That is why I believe sex education is a very beneficial and effective way to let people know about AIDS.
Bilingual Education Essay Research Paper Imagine being
Bilingual Education Essay, Research Paper Imagine being an immigrant from a country where the Spanish language is practically ubiquitous. Now imagine trying to learn in an American school using a foreign language and being expected to move into the mainstream with the other
Education Abstract Essay Research Paper There are
Education Abstract Essay, Research Paper There are several issues in bilingual and ESL education. First, are we providing each LEP student with an education that will encourage and enable them to succeed in society as adults. Another issue is the training that is offered for teachers and educators to provide them with the skills needed to ensure that they can impart a quality education.
Assimilation In Schools Essay Research Paper I
Assimilation In Schools Essay, Research Paper I believe that the most common of these three is assimilation. Assimilation occurs in many different ways in our schools, and it is unfortunately a part of life that we all have to learn to accept, no matter the consequences. America is more commonly known as the melting pot, one would assume automatically that the schools would consists of numerous cultures yet we still insist on forcing the American way of life onto many of our students.
Dress Codes Essay Research Paper During the
Dress Codes Essay, Research Paper During the 1980’s, some schools began to impose “dress codes” in order to obtain a proper school environment. The “dress codes” stated that students should be dressed decently and clothing or hair fashions should not distract other students. I believe that “dress codes” should be imposed in order to eliminate problems in a public schools.
Albert Camus Essay Research Paper PHL 342
Albert Camus Essay, Research Paper PHL 342 2-15-99 Albert Camus’ quote reaches me in a meaningful way. I am going to analyze this quote by the sentence because each one carries significance in the way I interpret them. The first sentence, “ Society proceeds sovereignly to eliminate the evil ones from her midst as if she were virtue itself.” This seems to me like Camus is saying that our society is acting as if it were perfect.
Ethnic Cleansing Essay Research Paper The first
Ethnic Cleansing Essay, Research Paper The first and most important human right is the right to live, but sometimes others bend the rules, and this is when genocide begins. Crimes against humanity have been around for many generations, including ours. The genocide against the Armenians by the Ottoman Turks in 1915 was because the Turkish authorities wanted to eliminate the Armenian presence in the country.
Elimination Of Agricultural Programs Essay Research Paper
The government should eliminate all agricultural programs because they do not benefit consumers. Agree? Disagree? Why? Why not? I do not think that the government should eliminate all agricultural programs. These programs were proposed and put in motion for particular purposes. Many lawmakers worked on them.
Bilnigual Education Essay Research Paper Imagine being
Bilnigual Education Essay, Research Paper Imagine being brought up in a family speaking only one language for your entire life and then you had to move to a foreign land where the language is different. If you had a choice of progressively learning this new language over the course of six to nine years or being put into a classroom and have to virtually teach yourself the language by listening to others around you which would you choose? Late exit bilingual education is a more effective form of bilingual education compared to the English immersion form of bilingual education in the fact that there are more benefits and less adverse effects.
Praise Of A Bilingual Country Essay Research
Paper Praise of a Bilingual Country In the essay English as Second Language, English as First Love , Stephen Baker, the author, suggests that the United States should adopt English as its official language. He does not like the idea of the United States not having an official language, and does not want the United States to become bilingual.
Public Education A Right Or A Privilege
Essay, Research Paper Public Education should be a right not a privilege. In my opinion, public education should be a right. We need public education. When it comes to voting,
Decleration Of Independence Essay Research Paper NamedatehourMy
Decleration Of Independence Essay, Research Paper Namedatehour*My Declaration of Independence* In congress, July 4. The unanimous declarations of the thirteen United States of America, When during the course of people lives, people try eliminate political groups that have been combined with another political groups, and to assume the other countries that live on this planet, and to respect the God given rights to all people and creatures of this Planet, and that you would have a decent respect of the people, that you would lets us be separate from you.
Education Essay Research Paper In to day
Education Essay, Research Paper In to day’s society education is becoming more and more important. The children of today need education to get good jobs and keep up with this fast paced modern society. Nobody ever explained this to my teachers through. High school was the worst. THe teachers at my school were losers and dinn’t know what they were doing.
National Language Essay Research Paper Good MorningRecently
National Language Essay, Research Paper Good Morning Recently the United States Congress has been debating whether or not to declare that English is the national language of the United States and that all instruction in public schools is in English. There is no question what the language of this country is, it is irrefutably English, it was the language of our Founding Fathers and the language that the Declaration of Independence was written in, as well as the United States Constitution.
Procrastination Essay Research Paper Procrastination is more
Procrastination Essay, Research Paper Procrastination is more than just a negative custom that needs to be weeded out of society; it is also a clich? a small-talk joke, boast, or complaint. After all, we all do it. Most everybody I know is willing to admit it is an exasperating problem in their life, and would benefit from a course in How to Eliminate Procrastination, but say they have to much to catch-up on, and will take it later.There are many underlying issues and causes of procrastination.
Bilingual Education In Miami Essay Research Paper
While California debates whether to stop teaching school children in two languages, the school system in Miami, Florida is expanding bilingual education. This city at the crossroads of the Americas is expanding bilingual education under the argument that students will need to speak, read and write in English and Spanish when they reach the business world.
Bilingual Education Essay Research Paper Bilingual EducationThe
Bilingual Education Essay, Research Paper Bilingual Education The amount of non-English-speaking minorities in the United States is continuously increasing. Be that as it may, there are people in today s society that feel that English should be the only language spoken. It is for that reason bilingual education may be eliminated from many public schools.
Bilingual Education Is It Hel Essay Research
Paper Bilingual Education: Is it helping or hurting? Bilingual education seems to be a rising topic that is currently up for debate. With the growing number of immigrants entering this country, the language barrier between individuals seems to be far greater when it comes to children in the classroom. On average it is said that here alone in Tempe, schools have about 45 different languages to one classroom.
Teen Pregnancy Essay Research Paper Teen PregnancyThere
Teen Pregnancy Essay, Research Paper Teen Pregnancy There are a lot of teen mothers growing up in this world wondering, what if I would have stayed in school? What could I have become? Would it have made my life easier if I had thought first?
Bilingual Education Essay Research Paper Bilingual Education 2
Bilingual Education Essay, Research Paper Bilingual Education = Unilingual Education Bilingual education in America is a sound idea, but it is not truly bilingual education, it is only bilingual for those who do not already speak English. America is a country with more and more cultures mixing together with different areas of America speaking different languages.
Prop 63 Essay Research Paper The Official
Prop. 63 Essay, Research Paper The Official English Language Proposition 63 will make English the Official Language of the United States and I am against The official English
Bilingualism Essay Research Paper Increase in Test
Bilingualism Essay, Research Paper ?Increase in Test Scores Counters Dire Forecast for Bilingual Ban? In the August 20, 2000 New York Times, an article concerning the way the California school system has chosen to educate the large percentage of students that are categorized as having ?limited English? caught my attention.
Dual Education Programs Essay Research Paper In
Dual Education Programs Essay, Research Paper In the United States, more and more students are learning and achieving academic excellence in dual language programs. These two-way bilingual programs integrate students who were raised speaking different languages to promote and provide learning and language development in two languages (Christian).
Lack Of Education Leads To Inequality Essay
, Research Paper Lack of Education leads to Inequality Poverty, as it is identified, in the grossly underdeveloped areas of Africa and other developing world countries cannot be compared in likeness to poverty situations faced by those in Canada and the United States. In these rich countries the poor are characterized as those who have a comparably low level of income, usually measured in the relative approach, one-half the median income whereas poverty as it is faced by those in developing countries is a matter of survival with little or no hope for escape.
Bilingual Education Essay Research Paper Bilingual EducationI
Bilingual Education Essay, Research Paper Bilingual Education I am sure that if I was improperly placed in a bilingual program, others have also. How does this happen? What characteristics show school officials that a student needs the classes to begin with? These officials seem to think that standardized tests and parent questionnaires will identify who is in need of ESL, but this system allows students who are not really LEP to be placed in the program.
Nothing Essay Research Paper An ecommerce solution
Nothing Essay, Research Paper An e-commerce solution for a business is the incorporation of all aspects of the business operation into an electronic format. Many well-established businesses have been selling on-line for years. For example, Dell Computers Corp., has been selling computers directly to end-users for years.
Solutions 2 Essay Research Paper Even though
Solutions 2 Essay, Research Paper Even though the main area to attack is illiteracy we cannot ignore the other problems. To eliminate hunger and also boost the economy, the focus should be on new efficient farming methods so that more of the farmable land can be used. Improvements in farming equipment and methods, marketing, and transportation are needed to increase agricultural output; therefore, Ethiopia should form ties in the form of student exchanges with other first world nations.
Legalize Marijuana Essay Research Paper I for
Legalize Marijuana Essay, Research Paper I, for one, believe that Marijuana should be legalized. I have several reasons for this, the main one is that it would almost completely eliminate the crime and other
English As A Language Essay Research
Paper The original objective of bilingual education was to ensure students would not fall behind academically because of a poor command of English and to gradually teach them English as a second language. If language-minority students were taught some subjects in their native tongue, proponents insisted, they potentially could learn English without sacrificing content knowledge.