Bilingual ed proposal brings swift criticism
Martin Finucane
BOSTON - A proposal to eliminate bilingual education in the
state's public schools was sharply criticized Tuesday by lawmakers and
bilingual education specialists.
"We want real solutions, not rhetoric," said Rep. Jarrett Barrios,
D-Cambridge.
And Rep. Antonio Cabral, D-New Bedford, called the proposal by Sen.
Guy Glodis, D-Worcester, "anti-immigrant propaganda."
Under transitional bilingual education, the state's current system,
students who don't speak English are put in classes where they learn
English, but they also learn subjects in their native language. The
program lasts three years, but can be extended.
Glodis' office said more than 44,000 students are enrolled in
bilingual education classes in the state.
The idea is that the students will eventually ease themselves into
regular classes.
But Glodis said he wanted to set up a one-year "sheltered immersion
program" in which students would get intensive help with the English
language. After that one-year program, students would go into regular
classes unless their parents requested they be put in bilingual classes.
Too many bilingual education students are remaining in the programs
past the three-year mark, with some remaining up to seven years, Glodis
said.
Glodis also pointed to a high dropout rate among Hispanics, saying
that was evidence the programs aren't working.
"I have filed this bill because fact after fact has clearly
demonstrated that bilingual education does not work," he said.
"My greatest intent in filing this bill is to help minority students,
help non-English-speaking students," he said. "Kids need to master the
English language in order to be competitive."
Glodis was joined at the news conference by Ron Unz, the California
businessman who pushed successfully for similar legislation to be passed
in his state in a referendum.
Unz said he believed that a referendum might be needed in
Massachusetts, if the bill doesn't pass the Legislature.
Unz said it was important that immigrant children learn English.
"It's what their parents want. It's what society needs. And it's
what's best for them," he said.
Just down the hall, a few minutes later, defenders of bilingual
education gathered.
Barrios produced different figures, saying that, on average, students
spend only 2 1/2 years in the program.
The bilingual education supporters also said that not every child can
learn English in just a year and that immersion programs cause immigrant
children to fall behind their peers in their other subjects.
They also said that bilingual education could work if changes were
made.
Among the suggestions: that the Department of Education should do
more to monitor the program and greater efforts should be made to find
better qualified teachers.
"What we ought to be doing is ... putting in place the tools, the
necessary tools, the necessary and appropriate resources in the
Department of Education," said Cabral.
"Since I've been here, these bills have come and gone," said Cabral.
"I'm going to predict this bill will come and go." |