jack dowdell blog 5

Topic: Federal government should not be responsible for bilingual education. Rather individuals should take it upon themselves to learn English.

Park, Bob. "Why does ProEnglish oppose bilingual education?." Pro English 1. Web. 19 Nov 2009. <http://www.proenglish.org/issues/education/beindex.html>.

ProEnglish is a website of concerned citizens who desire to protect the rights and values of America as they are. The avenue they choose to do this in defending the English language both in rallies as well as in the legal courts. This article makes a very strong case that I hold to be true both in personal experience as well as statistics I have ran across. ESOL classes cost schools unbelievable amounts of money and resources. Most of the time it is ineffective. The drop out rate of ESOL students is extremely high compared to other demographics. Even those that don’t drop out most likely will not cycle out of the ESOL program. Which means they graduate without proper language skills to further their job gaining abilities.

Frank, Bob. "Arizona Prop 207 results." Pro English (2004): 1. Web. 19 Nov 2009. .

The Arizona study I have just cited shows a possible alternative to bilingual education. The difference proposed is English Immersion as opposed to separating them. In an English Immersion program the students would take normal classes with the English speakers. Then have support from another bilingual source to aid them, the study cites a much higher success rate from this type of education opposed to separation. Economically it is much easier on the pockets of American systems and the dollars we do use come from the state funds which are already there.