Opinion

Thoughts to make bilingual ed work

Posted March 25, 2008 11:00 pm

Jennifer West's points are very well taken (March 22). The purpose of a bilingual education program is to move non-English speaking students into the general student population as soon as possible.

I discussed our state's bilingual education law with State Rep. Mark Beaubien on March 15 and suggested to him three changes to our laws that would free our educators to use the bilingual education program that produces the best results and to do so without financial penalties. Diamond Lake is succeeding, and other school districts should be free to follow their example.

The changes I proposed would make English our state's instruction language, but permit the use of the student's native language to ensure comprehension. The requirement to teach the history and culture of the student's parents' native country would be removed. And, the program would apply to all subjects taught and not just to the core academic curriculum.

Denny Driscoll

Round Lake

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