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. Until two years ago the practice of teaching math, science and social studies to immigrants was done in their native language until they gradually picked up English. With a vote by Californians that bilingual system ended and immediately predictions of an educational catastrophe began. Two years later those predictions have proven to be false. With an increase in the scores on standardized exams, rather than the plummet that was predicted, the results will have an impact on the other states considering this measure (AZ, NY, CO, and MA). Other circumstances can also be credited for this increase, namely the reduction of the average class size from 30 to 20.

I chose this topic because according to the most recent census close to 18 million inhabitants of this country speak Spanish as their primary language. I believe that with a program similar to the one in use currently in California the future for the next generation of immigrants in this country is brighter. With an immersion into the English language rather than a gradual learning environment more actual learning can take place in the future and the more educated they will become. With more education and a fluent understanding of the English language the futures of these individuals will be much brighter in my opinion. With the Success of this program in California it allows for the consideration by other states and perhaps the national government to institute this as public policy. The future of the next generation of Americans as a whole will be brighter because of this.