Bilingual Education
Bilingual education is a “sacred cow” in California, and tragically, it comes at the expense of every one of the 1.6 million limited-English-proficient public school children in this state. Bilingual education deserves an “F” for failure to teach English to the children efficiently and effectively. It delays the learning of English. Emphasis on English as a Second Language or English Language Development needs to be the focus for teaching English. English as a common language (ECL) is the order of the day!
Bilingual education needs to be overhauled, not institutionalized. Mandated bilingual education by the State Department of Education must end! We need to free up a system on a county-by-county basis and encourage flexibility, not stifle it. We need transitional bilingual programs that encourage quick native language transitions into English, rather than slow, methodical, ineffective programs like the ones we are saddled with now.
Restore local school boards with control of programs to teach limited- and non-English-speaking students and emphasize results over methodology.
GLORIA MATTA TUCHMAN
Santa Ana
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