California Having Success With English-Only Education

The language barrier is a common problem for many residents of the United States. One theory about helping children in this situation succeed is language immersion, or English-only education. That has become the law in California, and it appears to be working. JOIE CHEN, CNN ANCHOR: The language barrier is a common problem for many newcomers to this country, and even by some who’ve lived here all their lives whose families don’t speak English.

One theory about helping children in this situation succeed is language immersion, or English-only education.

That’s become the law in California. Tonight, CNN’s Jennifer Auther with a report on how it’s working.

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JENNIFER AUTHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Two years ago, when California voters passed proposition 227, ending bilingual education in public schools, critics feared children with limited English skills would fail miserably. They haven’t. Principal Annette Kessler says scores on standardized tests at L.B. Weemes Elementary in Los Angeles are up between six and 14 points in every subject at each grade level.

For 10 years, Kessler taught bilingual classes.

ANNETTE KESSLER, PRINCIPAL, L.B. WEEMES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: There just was no continuity in how the program was delivered. There is a lot to be said for immersion; and there has been a history in the past.

AUTHER: Statewide, the California Board of Education shows almost twice as many children with limited English skills have improved scores in the past 18 months on the nationally recognized Stanford Nine tests.

JULIA GALINDO, PARENT: They learn Spanish from us at home. They can speak and write at home.

FRANCISCO VERDIN JR., PARENT: I feel it’s wrong, because my son, you know, is missing the benefit of learning both languages.

AUTHER: Some educators say crediting the demise of bilingual education for higher scores is too simplistic. Since prop 227 passed, California also cut class size in lower grades while educators shifted back to the basics.

Silicon Valley entrepreneur Ron Unz, who sponsored and almost single-handedly financed the California measure, is behind a similar November ballot initiative in Arizona.

RON UNZ, CHAIRMAN, ENGLISH FOR THE CHILDREN: When you look at those countries around the world that simply stick to traditional subject matter in their schools, they do a lot better.

AUTHER: Not all teachers are convinced.

MAYRA URBINA, SECOND-GRADE TEACHER: They can read phonetically, but they still don’t have the language development that they need.

AUTHER (on camera): Proposition 227 has a provision in which parents may request a waiver to move their children into a bilingual program. They must show that their child would suffer an educational or emotional problem if placed in English-only classrooms. This school year, the California Department of Education reports that close to 188,000 such waivers have been granted.

(voice-over): But at L.B. Weemes Elementary, the principal says not one parent has requested to opt out of English-only instruction.

Jennifer Auther, CNN, Los Angeles.



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