Posted on 11/08/2005 1:01:10 PM PST by VU4G10
JONESBORO, Ga. – A school board has voted to open a public elementary school where students will be taught to be equally proficient in English and Spanish by fifth grade. Unidos Dual Language Charter School, which is scheduled to open next fall, is believed to be the first of its kind in the state.
It won't target the immigrant community by teaching English as a second language, but aims to teach both languages together to classes equally divided between English- and Spanish-native speakers.
"They're able to learn a language in very natural ways," said DeeAnn Dozier, the Clayton County schools English teacher who reviewed the petition. The board voted Monday night.
Hispanics make up nearly 8 percent of students enrolled in the state's public schools this year, according to a report released last week by the National Council of La Raza, the largest U.S.-based Hispanic advocacy group.
The first dual language education program in the United States was started in 1962 in Coral Way, Fla., according to the Unidos petition. In 2004, 294 programs used both Spanish and English.
If bilingualism was really their aim, wouldn't it make more sense to keep the kids seperate most of the day, give the English speakers their own intensive spanish classes, the Spanish speakers their own intensive english classes, then let the children mingle at recess and lunch for practice purposes?
Bi-lingualism is a lousy goal.
Exactly the wrong course of action for our future.
Theodore Roosevelt suggested a century ago that the official language of America should be English and that immigrants be given 5 years to show proficiency in English or be sent home.
My nephew, who's now a sophomore, started school this way and after 3 years, none of the honky kids could speak spanish and none of the hispanic kids could speak english. They each hung out in their own groups at recess and lunch. While it might look good on paper, it has proven time and time again not to work.
Cool! Wish we had this when I was coming up. You learn your second language before you get to high school. Your third in high school and then study your fourth in university.
Isn't that special.
Well that's one way to get the mexicans to learn english.
BIG mistake. Hugh. Seriesly.
I am not against learning other languages at all because they actually help one to understand one's own native tongue better.
They'll be able to fill out welfare forms in two languages!
I agree. I think that all early primary children should begin a second language. I'm just not sure the best way to do it.
Typical kneejerk response.
I suppose you think it serves no purpose to learn any other languages?
In my school you had a choice: French, Spanish, or German. The program stated in 6th grade when I was in school, but they have since moved it to 3rd grade.
That will come in real handy when we invade Mexico.
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No, no, no. It is my experience that to be truly bilingual requires a family background of high culture and a community that is lingual to a high degree. Furthermore, one of the languages must take first place.
"It won't target the immigrant community by teaching English as a second language"
Translation: Georgia state supports illegal aliens and the violation of federal law.
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