Return-Path: <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov>
Received: from literacy (localhost.nifl.gov [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.8.7/8.8.5) with SMTP id OAA29367; Mon, 10 Nov 1997 14:11:13 -0500 (EST)
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 14:11:13 -0500 (EST)
Message-Id: <971110141213_-2042826177@mrin46.mail.aol.com>
Errors-To: lmann@literacy.nifl.gov
Reply-To: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov
Originator: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov
Sender: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov
Precedence: bulk
From: MMLukes@aol.com
To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov>
Subject: [NIFL-ESL:1482] Re: The issue of English Only
X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas
Status: RO
Content-Length: 1332
Lines: 26
In a message dated 97-11-08 11:53:47 EST,Paul Rogers wrote::
> On the other hand, research on Dual Language or Two Way Immersion
>programs indicates that such an approach is vastly superior to all
>others. And I would like to hear from people on this program.
>Paul Rogers
Unfortunately, although a plethora of research has clearly laid out the
reasons that English-only instruction is neither pedagogicaly sound nor
beneficial to <<national unity>>, it is not in the interests of those pushing
English-only to pay much attention to research. I am reminded of a school
board meeting in infamous Orange County, CA (80% of the student population is
classified as LEP), where all of the school board members were monlingual
speakers of English. When bombarded with sound research, they calmly replied,
"we are not interested in research; we just don't want to spend money on
languages other than English." There you have it. All is not lost, but we
need to recognize that those who control the purse strings may not be swayed
by research, no matter how sound.
--
Marguerite Lukes, Coordinator Literacy Partners, Inc.
What Works Literacy Partnership phone: (212) 802-1113
30 East 33rd Street, 6th floor fax: (212) 725-0414
New York, NY 10016 e-mail: wwlp@ix.netcom.com
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Thu Apr 14 2005 - 14:09:40 EDT