Dual-language programs are not failing in Colorado Sheila M. Shannon
We have been informed that test scores are up in California. The improved scores have been directly linked to the ban on bilingual education that California voters chose two years ago. Linda Chavez ('English immersion victory,' Aug. 24) would like us to believe that Colorado test scores can be similarly improved by banning bilingual education in this state. Test scores are only one measure of children's academic achievement. All the students in California were tested with one test that was designed for English-speaking children who are instructed in English. All scores improved. Sounds like California students are good test-takers nowadays. Test scores do not tell us much more than that. The Colorado Legislature requires 'a body of evidence' to show student achievement. Scores from one test do not constitute a body of evidence. As an educator and a parent, I worry about the high stakes of statewide testing. I do not want teachers to teach to the test. I want teachers to teach all the rich and varied content that should be the stuff of day-to-day teaching. We have evidence throughout the country that testing has created scandalous situations, including teaching to the test, cheating and manipulating scores. If we are to emulate California, Coloradans need to know more about its test scores beyond a simple reporting that they have improved. Also, Coloradans need to think carefully about whether they believe that banning bilingual education is the direct link to the improved scores. Linda Chavez poses 7-year-old Christian Dominguez as the English immersion poster child. Christian appears with his mother in the Aug. 20 New York Times article that first informed us about California's test scores. Christian is taught in English only and, after nine months, his use of English has increased. But we don't know Christian's test scores, nor do we know much about his ability to perform well academically in English. We are only told that he 'is able to read short books while understanding what he hears on his favorite television show, 'X-Men.'' From that pleasant scenario, the article shifts and concludes by stating that an unexpected outcome of the ban on bilingual education is that children who once spoke Spanish no longer understand their friends who come from Mexico. This is surely an unhappy consequence. Why do children who enter school speaking Spanish have to abandon that language for English? Even if schools do not provide some form of bilingual education, why send the message that Spanish must be replaced? Increasingly in Colorado we have parents who strongly believe that abandoning Spanish is wrong. Moreover, here we have English-speaking parents who believe that ignoring Spanish for their English-speaking children is a waste of educational resources. In these programs, half the students are Spanish-speaking and half are English-speaking. The goal of each program is that all students become bilingual and biliterate. There are more than 15 such programs throughout Colorado. Well-established programs with more than 10 years of success include one in Fort Collins, at Harris Bilingual Elementary School, and at Escuela Bilingue Washington in Boulder. Greeley, Brighton and Fort Lupton have programs, and Denver Public Schools will have a dual language Montessori program next year. The Colorado Consortium of Dual Language Programs conducted a survey of more than 1,000 parents who have children enrolled in these programs. From their responses, one could easily see that each of their children could be the Colorado poster child for the success of dual-language education. One parent stated, 'It's the best program that exists, not only because of the language but it also gives kids more tools to do better in all areas.' Another parent said, 'There is no greater gift to give a child than bilingualism.' A Spanish-speaking parent said, 'I am very grateful for the great achievements that you, the teachers, have accomplished with my children. I am surprised that they are speaking English in such a short amount of time. They only spoke Spanish before. Thank you.' Good luck, California, with your improved test scores. Congratulations, Colorado, on pursuing excellence in education through dual language programs. Sheila M. Shannon is a member of Common Sense Colorado, an ducational forum, and also is an associate professor in education at the University of Colorado at Denver. |