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[Fatcat]

http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/education/entries/2005/11/01/clayton_goes_bi.html

I've posted a link from a blog in the local Atlanta paper. If you have time, I'd like to know what you all think on this subject. With the Spanish-speaking population becoming more and more prevalent in Georgia, many school districts are trying to implement bilingual education. Of course I don't think this is a bad idea seeing that I would proabably be fluent in Spanish ( and maybe another language) had I started in elementary school rather than high school. And I know the extended benefits into other subjects.
So, what would you say to these people who think it's an "insult" to Americans and our society to "make" their children learn another language. What do you say to people who say "It's America and in America we speak American/English. Send 'em home if they can't learn it." (BTW, I love when people say we speak American, makes me giggle a little and gives me a glimpse into their heads)

I just can't grasp why some people would be against this. Any thoughts?

[thelmadatter]

Well... what we call "bilingual education" is somewhat misleading. "Bilingual education" does NOT mean that the English-speaking kids will be taught partially in Spanish or even that they will LEARN any Spanish (although the original idea, which arose out of Miami way back in the early 60's did have this in mind).

The concept in the States, simplistically stated is that non-English-speaking kids would taught subjects in their L1 and English so that they won't fall behind academically as they learn English (as opposed to the sink-or-swim idea).

Seems that Clayton's idea is closer to the original. However, the arguments against bilingual education is that 1) non-English-speaking kids don't learn English... they simply wait for an explanation in Spanish 2) not requiring immigrants to master English fractures American society and new immigrants entry into it. Reason #2 has to do with national identity... lacking a religious, ethnic etc basis for identifying oneself as an American, we really have only 2 things that bind us a) belief in the principles of the Constitution and b) the English language.

Even the vast majority of opponents to bilingual education have no problems with Americans being bilingual (though Im sure there are a few nutcases out there) ... the problem come with immigrants who spend years and years here never learning any English (and worse, those in this category who want the broader society to cater to their linguistic needs/desires)

Personally, I am not against bilingual education as long as it truly produces bilingual members of society (including those with English as a native language!) but I have serious qualms with how bilingual education has developed over the past 30 years or so.

[Cdaniels]