What do you think about bilingual education? Do you think it should be federally funded?

Question

Please be specific, there are different versions of bilingual education.

Answer 1

No. In our country's history EVERYONE has had to learn English. And, by bilingual, are you talking about spanish, vietnamese, korean, portuguese? See what I'm getting at? We can't teach everyone in their home language.

EVERYONE MUST LEARN ENGLISH SO WE CAN COMMUNICATE AMONGST OURSELVES.

Answer 2

I would answer this question as a practitioner in the classroom. Yes! As a mother of young children. Yes!
Why?
1. Because it will mean that I would be given original materials as a teacher in Spanish. So that I don't have to correct or translate materials for the students.
2. Also because it means that it would raise the status quo of bilingual education. It has been almost 50 year since Brown vs. D of Ed? When is the funding going to meet the pavement?
3. As a mother it means that my children have the option to be bilingual throughout their schooling.
4. I hope that more money goes to educating the youth and less money spend in prisons and wars.

Answer 3

I think on paper its a good idea if it is a temporary transition for incoming citizens. However, in reality I have seen bilingual programs mostly hinder the progress of non English speaking students. I live in Southern California where most foreign born students are Mexican or other Hispanic. I think it is important for them to learn English through a Bilingual class, however, their bilingual classes have become nothing more than a Spanish speaking teacher teaching exclusively in Spanish. Most of the teachers I have been exposed to think they are doing these children a service by creating a familiar environment for them, but they are essentially just hurting their chances of truly assimilating into American society. I am a first generation American from Mexican parents and I am grateful that I learned English while still maintaining the traditions of my family's heritage. So, long story short, I think bilingual education should be funded, but strictly enforced and regulated and with the intention of properly integrating foreign born students into American society.

Answer 4

Well the Federal Government only funds about 6% of the cost of K-12 education. The States and the local counties provide the rest of the funding. Yes, im sure the 73% increase in federal education funding under Bush has helped alot. Especially since the last time we had a Democratic President and a Democratic Congress , they cut education funding 16%. For those who don't think thats true, go look at the federal education budget for 1994.

Answer 5

I live in Canada and was in an English immersion program for many years. I Thought it was great! I got to learn about french, and English, with out having to go else where. It should definitely be federally funded, why deny a students right to learn? And why does it always have to be for immigrants? Don't native speaking English students deserve to have the same rights to bilingualism? Bilingualism gives you so many more perspectives on life, it is great for career and post secondary education, not to mention travel. PLus it is muuch easier to learn a second language when your young, then it is when your older.

Answer 6

Bilingual education is a must. In today's global economy, the kids who can speak more than one language will be at a clear advantage over those who cannot. If we want our children to grow up and be able to compete in the world, we are going to want them to be capable of speaking with different kinds of people. If keeping our economy and business world competitive is important, and few in their right minds would argue otherwise, then federal funding would be a good thing.

Answer 7

No, I disagree completely.
English is my second language too.

Languages are an important part of a regular school curriculum, however they should be electives, and not have special funding set aside for them.

If bilingual education is going to be part of the requirements, we would have to include every known language to make it equal.
If you'd like to study languages, apply at the International Language Institutes, and go for it.

When people choose to live, and work in this country they need to speak English; period.

The only language education that I would support receiving any kind of funding, is teaching people how to speak proper English.

Teaching children/adults to speak their native language, teach them about their culture, and traditions should be up to the individual families, not the schools.

Answer 8

In a local school here, they are making students take and pass spanish.. in turn they have to have less English, history, etc. I think if you can't speak the native language, learn it or go home. There are a lot of things we can be teaching kids like home ec, parenting skills, cooking, sewing, etc that would be of better use. Instead they make them take a language so they can communicate with people who are immigrants and r too lazy to learn English. I work in the public schools and I think we could use some classes on behavior management and respect for the kids and adults.. there isn't enough time to teach everything. I would rather our kids know advanced math, and science and technology which they will use and not spanish which they only have to use to speak to students who don't want to learn English.

Answer 9

Studies show that if you are fluent (able to read and write) in your native language, you will pick up English much easier. Many children in bilingual programs are not fluent in their native languages, so they need these programs.

If we weren't in this stupid war, we would have all the money necessary to fund education budgets.

Answer 10

no, I think it hurts those who come to this country as they will not be able to integrate as well into US society.