Why kids should be taught in English

On Nov. 18, I was a speaker at the Illinois Institute for Policy in Chicago. The subject was "English Learners and Chicago's Future: What is working and what changes are needed?"

As an advocate for teaching Hispanic students in English, I have been quoted as saying "that's what works best." Diamond Lake Elementary District 76 in Lake County showed the intestinal fortitude to do it, and risked losing its state and federal funding for bilingual education. They taught non-English-speaking Hispanic students in English and supported the lessons in Spanish as needed for three consecutive years. The kids excelled in lessons taught in English and learned to speak English faster than in obsolete, state-mandated bilingual education programs.

It was my honor to share the podium that day with Dr. Roger Prosise, District 76 superintendent. He proved the theory that "Hispanic kids are not dumb, should not be coddled and should be taught in English for best results."

Diamond Lake has 1,300 students, 50 percent low-income Hispanics. It feeds into two affluent high schools, one of which is among the very best in the country. District 76 was having difficulty hiring "good bilingual education teachers" and did the right thing.

The district asked for permission to teach Hispanics in English while supporting the lessons in Spanish. The program was piloted for a minimum of three years and these are results.

The number of English Language Learner students meeting or exceeding standards in reading rose from 33 percent in 2004 to 71 percent of test-takers in 2007. For math, the number rose from 49 percent in 2004 to 79 percent in 2007.

What worked, according to Dr. Prosise, was good teachers teaching in English. Incompetence and mediocrity were not tolerated. Learning in English was the priority, and it worked. English language is the greatest gift a teacher can give kids. The rest is up to them.

Tony Reyes

president, West Chicago High School District 94