BILINGUAL EDUCATION IN CALIFORNIA

English is America's preferred language. It is not the "national" language, but every important document, text book, and other aspect of daily life is in English. Most people believe that if you do not speak or understand English, you are either ignorant or uncaring about learning the language. In California, as immigration continues, especially from Latin America and Asia, schools are inundated with children whose English fluency is well behind that of the average American child their ages.

Do we ignore these children and their parents? Of course, we cannot. This requires a system of bilingual education, at least until some sort of English fluency is achieved and the students can keep up with their English-speaking peers. It is a costly experiment, and there are many people who may well be prejudiced They believe in "America for Americans". In California they have now voted against mandatory bilingual education in California schools. The pro- and con arguments tend to look out for the best interests of money spent for California schools. Bilingual teachers and text books and separate classrooms cause budgets to overflow. However, without bilingual education, immigrant children can never catch up. I am a perfect example. Born in China, I struggled to learn English (and still struggle without help). Without bilingual education I would not be in this school, writing this essay. The need for bilingual education is truly based o

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Again, I have to use myself as an example. I came from China; I speak both Chinese and English. At the beginning of my English study, if there were no Chinese translation during the class, I would not understand a word. A person, who does not understand anything about this language, will not have interest in study it. I am a bilingual person who has benefited from Bilingual Education in study. Bilingual Education has made me fluent in both languages. Bilingual Education will benefit more bilinguals studying in English, American culture and many more things. REFUTATION CON: The critics of bilingual education are, for the most part, politically conservatives. They feel, to begin with, that part of the confusion around bilingual education programs is their different meanings in different states. Add to that the fact that, critics claim, there is no consensus as to what kind of bilingual education is most successful. One of the more sophisticated bilingual critics, William Safire, wrote in the New York TIMES: Liberal supporters of 'bilingual education' mean well. . .It hasn't worked. The kids could have told them at the start that if you don't speak English in school, you speak the language you hear at home.

Category: Government - B