Misplaced nostalgia for 'sink or swim'

In the Hidalgo County model that Mr. Reyes looks fondly back on ("Are Spanish-speaking students 'coddled,'" Daily Herald, Sept. 2), he said limited English proficient students either learned English or "wet" their pants.

While this may have been one of the "educational methods" Hidalgo schools used in the 1960s, requiring students to learn English at the expense of having them "wet their pants" is not a "sound educational method" of instruction.

In fact, "sink or swim" models like those in Hidalgo County were soundly rejected in 1974 by the Supreme Court's decision in Lau vs. Nichols.

Moreover, had these methods been successful, there would be many more Latino PhDs today.

Since 1974, schools throughout the United States have been mandated to and are required under the law to take "appropriate action to overcome language barriers that impede equal participation by its students."

It is admirable and appropriate for school districts to implement new educational programs or methods aimed at assisting students to acquire language skills more rapidly.

Nevertheless, these programs still must be recognized as "sound" programs by experts in the field based upon research showing that the method under consideration is effective.

Whether or not West Chicago Community School District 94's new program of requiring LEP students to spend the "vast majority" of their day in accelerated programs taught predominately by Anglo teachers is a "sound" educational method based upon research methods proven to be effective by experts in the field is unclear.

In any event, LEP students should be offered programs that have been shown to help students acquire English language skills, not programs based upon an individual's personal experiences in the 1960s.

Ricardo Meza

Regional Counsel

Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund

Chicago