Language Lessons
IMMIGRANT pupils who cannot speak English at an inner London school are to be taught subjects such as maths and science in their own languages. The headmaster says this will 'not disadvantage them'. Unfortunately, the record suggests otherwise. If the children of immigrant families are to make their way in mainstream society, it is vital that they learn the language of the majority. For such children, learning English is vastly more important than learning other subjects. This is why, in 1998, Hispanic parents in California supported the banning of 'bilingual education' the 30-year-old policy of teaching Hispanic pupils in Spanish in the state's school system. When some young British Moslems actively support, or are sympathetic to, Bin Laden's Al-Qaeda and other Islamic extremist groups, it is utterly misguided for schools to be taking a step no matter how well meant that will impede assimilation rather than hasten it. And with potentially disastrous results. |