Simple Proposals

No. 1: Make “Continuing Education” Worthwhile

Teachers spot them easily: They’re often angry. They misbehave. They spend lots of time in the principal’s office. They show up for a while, then disappear. Academically, they’re often hopelessly behind.

They are foster children. And in some urban neighborhoods, they comprise a third or more of the students. Teachers can make a difference in the classroom. But what can they do about what happens to their students after the school bell rings? The school can’t fill in for an absent or neglectful family.

Or, can it?

Across the country, educators are suggesting doing just that. In Minnesota, Gov. Arne Carlsen wants to spend $12 million building three residential “academies” for foster children. Hershey, Pa. has an 1,100-student school for the children of low-income and single parents.

California is considering creating such boarding schools, as well. There’s even a built-in source of money to pay for them: the money already spent on foster care, between $1,200 and $5,000 per month per child, depending on what services are provided for them.

No. 2: All-English Preschools

The Orange Unified School District last year abandoned bilingual education, switching to teaching all of its students--including those who speak another language at home--in English.

To help its youngest students adapt, the district started an experimental preschool program aimed at teaching 3- and 4-year-olds to speak English. About 50 children participate in the publicly funded program at West Orange Elementary School. They spend the day playing games, singing songs, repeating rhymes and even making videotapes--all in English. Their teacher constantly asks them: “How would you say that in English?”

Because of a shortage of preschool teachers who speak Spanish and other languages, most of the programs operated by school districts around the state are conducted in English. It is all but unheard of for such classes to be set up deliberately to teach children to speak English--because many authorities in child development resist the idea that anything at all should be taught in preschool.

Some pre-schools in Los Angeles, as well, are now teaching English language development. Santa Barbara is planning to do the same. Orange Unified Supt. Robert French says it only makes sense. “Many children come from homes in which no English has been spoken for their first five years. Our position is, get the kids in there early. The sooner we can get them, the better off they’ll be.”