[Texas:]Bilingual program debated

San Antonio Express-News ^ | 07/07/2007 | Gary Scharrer

[Niteflyr]

We probably need to deport at lease 90 % of the Spanish speaking kids (along with their families) and there you have it: Problem solved!

Ahhhhh!...one can dream!!

[rpgdfmx]

WHAT? Bilingual education (normal in most of the world) is seen as making better students... and there is plenty of evidence that children educated in two languages maintain intellectual capacity well into adulthood. There was an interesting study of elderly nuns a few years ago (nuns make ideal subjects for the study of aging... having a similar “lifestyle” and diet). Those who spoke two languages had much lower rates of alzheimers and other debilitating mental conditions as they aged.

[doc1019]

To quote my self:

Because, if things don’t change soon, Spanish will the dominant language spoken in the good ol’ US of A. Don’t you want your kids able to speak the commerce language of America?

Spanish will never (I hope) be the language of worldwide commerce; it could become the language of commerce in this country.

[Niteflyr]

WHAT? Bilingual education (normal in most of the world) is seen as making better students... and there is plenty of evidence that children educated in two languages maintain intellectual capacity well into adulthood. There was an interesting study of elderly nuns a few years ago (nuns make ideal subjects for the study of aging... having a similar “lifestyle” and diet). Those who spoke two languages had much lower rates of alzheimers and other debilitating mental conditions as they aged.

That may be...if the languages are that of first-world countries...

[george76]

[Paleo Conservative]

Soon, both groups of children will become bilingual and bi-literate with the youngsters helping each other develop two languages, say supporters of such dual-language immersion.

Excuse me, but lots of the illegal Mexican immigrants in Texas speak rather bad Spanish.

[Niteflyr]

To quote my self: Because, if things don’t change soon, Spanish will the dominant language spoken in the good ol’ US of A. Don’t you want your kids able to speak the commerce language of America? Spanish will never (I hope) be the language of worldwide commerce; it could become the language of commerce in this country.

And I'll repeat...it may someday (also hope not) dominate the service sector...but not Wall Street...wouldn't you rather your kids have a better chance there than at a job where standard attire is a paper hat? ("you want fries with that?")

[YouGoTexasGirl]

I would LOVE for some Asian group to say, “We want English and Chinese/Vietnamese/Korean to be taught” at a heavily populated non-English speaking Spanish classroom!!!! Boy, would this turn these government sops on end?!!!!

America is becoming toast and our enemies are taking shorthand at our stupidity.

In Texas I am sick and tired of hearing Spanish spoken at the grocery stores and them walking out of retail stores if the young clerks can’t help them in Spanish!

On a very sad note, we have so many in government now that are not good in English and when my husband and I were at a local new park for a nice relaxing run, he stopped and read one of those signs where —’s— was used incorrectly in all 6 or 7 instances.

[Graybeard58]

I tried to teach my kids English, it just didn't work, they still call the telly a t.v.

[VanShuyten]

Bilingual education is not “normal”, but common. The best way to get non-English speaking students up to grade level is to put them into an intensive English program for 1-2 years. Unfortunately, schools refuse to do this for social/political reasons. Students who take intensive English courses do much better than students taught in their own language or in bilingual classes. However, the intensive English students have social integration problems because they are usually older than others at the same grade level, and they have been isolated for those 1-2 years in a “special” class, inviting baiting by mainstream students. If you’re looking for results, though, intensive English is the way to go.

[Niteflyr]

I tried to teach my kids English, it just didn't work, they still call the telly a t.v.

LOL!

[oneamericanvoice]

Got that right on both counts! No bi-lingual education or anything else for that matter! This is America! Speak English!

That bi-lingual education stuff didn’t work here in California. They sure don’t pander to the Asians or any other group like this. It is unfair to our kids and the all the other kids as well! End Spanish in America!

[Niteflyr]

Bilingual education is not “normal”, but common. The best way to get non-English speaking students up to grade level is to put them into an intensive English program for 1-2 years. Unfortunately, schools refuse to do this for social/political reasons. Students who take intensive English courses do much better than students taught in their own language or in bilingual classes. However, the intensive English students have social integration problems because they are usually older than others at the same grade level, and they have been isolated for those 1-2 years in a “special” class, inviting baiting by mainstream students. If you’re looking for results, though, intensive English is the way to go.

I have to agree with that...mainly because it seems logical.

[Niteflyr]

That bi-lingual education stuff didn’t work here in California. They sure don’t pander to the Asians or any other group like this. It is unfair to our kids and the all the other kids as well! End Spanish in America!

I live in So Cal...and there are areas with HUGE Asian populations...wonder why the choice at my bank ATM isn't "press one for English...2 for Spanish...3 for Mandarin...4 for..."...pandering is the word that comes to mind for me too...

[TexasTransplant]

Spanish is a Language that I don’t need to learn, Mexican is a different Language all together, it is like listening to Rap... (in other words Speaking Mexican is to Spanish what Rap is to English)

Now if you want to work at the UN... French would be a better choice.

TT

[doc1019]

Not part and parcel of my argument.

Beat my head against a wall to explain once … my fault. Beat my head against a wall to explain a second time, still my fault, but I learn from the second head butt.

So long and adieus! As it were.

[Niteflyr]

Spanish is a Language that I don’t need to learn, Mexican is a different Language all together, it is like listening to Rap... (in other words Speaking Mexican is to Spanish what Rap is to English) Now if you want to work at the UN... French would be a better choice. TT

Exactly my point...:o)

[OKIEDOC]

Our little town is 87% Hispanic.

The school allows none of the students to speak in Spanish during class.

[Niteflyr]

Well at least we agree on Fred Thompson in ‘08!

[doc1019]

LOL!