Honig Urges Bilingual Courses Stressing Rapid English Fluency

State Supt. of Public Instruction Bill Honig wants “a new direction for bilingual education” that will emphasize rapid English fluency.

“Bilingual education has been neglected, and we need to push harder on parental participation,” he told a meeting of the state Board of Education. “Our primary emphasis should be that bilingual students should learn English as soon as possible.”

A draft of bilingual education goals considered by the board called for the placement of bilingual students with English-speaking students on a daily basis to increase their exposure to English.

But board member John Ward of Lakewood said the concept might have the opposite effect by separating fluent English-speaking students from those who speak little or no English.

“I have a hard time with the fact there will be more segregation,” he said at the Friday meeting.

Honig challenged Education Secretary William Bennett’s contention that bilingual education has been a failure, saying such programs work.

However, Honig wants to speed up the bilingual education process and move students into mainstream classrooms quicker than is done now.

The state board must make recommendations to the Legislature on the direction of bilingual education before the Chacon-Moscone Bilingual Bicultural Act of 1976 expires next year.