Bilingual+&+ESL


 * __Bilingual and ESL__ **

** Defined: ** The definition of Bilingual Education by the Department of Education is, ". . . The use of two languages, one of which is English, as mediums of instruction for the same pupil population in a well-organized program which encompasses part or all of the curriculum and includes the study of history and culture associated with the mother tongue. A complete program develops and maintains the children's self-esteem and a legitimate pride in both cultures”        However, the majority of ESL students in the United States are taught in a “Transitional” manner, which means students are taught to follow the majority (America), not the minority (their culture), and speak English only, forgetting about their culture.    In a perfect world, students would be taught in an “Enrichment” manner, where their culture and the majority culture work as one to educate the student essentially in both cultures and both languages ( http://www.freewebs.com/cerdahdz/defofbilingualed.htm ). ** History: ** In 1968 the Title VII Bilingual Education Act gave funds to schools to help develop ESL programs. By 1974 the Supreme Court ruled that, “ programs conducted exclusively in English denied equal access to education to students who spoke other languages. The Court determined that districts with such students had a responsibility to help them overcome their language disadvantage” ( http://www.ericdigests.org/pre-9211/brief.htm). Unfortunately, in the 1980’s things started to go downhill for ESL students. Schools were given more flexibility with Title VII, so ESL students lost a lot of their rights because many schools were given the option to teach English-only classes.

California has been really hard on its ESL students. In 1994, the state denied illegal immigrants their right to an education with Proposition 187, and in 1998 Proposition 227 was passed, which said that all students must be taught in English. If a student doesn’t speak English, they’re put into a short (one year) immersion program to teach them. A study showed only 7% of students are fluent in English after a year in one of these immersion programs (   http://www.freewebs.com/cerdahdz/legislationtimeline.htm                  ).

** Bilingual Education Act of 1968 and 1994 provided funding for schools that were trying to accommodate students that had English as a second language. The act in 1994 was strongest because it promoted the goal of bilingualism in education instead of students just transitioning into English. On May 25, 1970 there was a Memorandum in which the Department of Health, Education and Welfare referred to Title VII and prohibited the denial of refusing educational programs for students with limited English. http://coe.sdsu.edu/people/jmora/Pages/HistoryBE.htm http://www.nabe.org/advocacy/legislation.html
 * Laws:

 In 2000, Arizona followed in California’s footsteps with Proposition 203. This also called for English-only speaking classes.

Here's a website that shows the policies for ESL in [|Maine]