Immersion Programs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ Just like we said, your bullshit doesn't pass the smell test. Duh! Bethune's model of a spanish class starting in 3rd or whatever is not supported in the research about bilingual ed. If they opted to switch to the dual language 50/50 model, they would have no need for many of their English language teachers and a higher need for Spanish speakers. The English only folks would be canned. That's common sense. Many of the English folks are African American. For a school serving mainly African Americans and in an environment where we're seeing less and less AAs, there would be a firestorm if black teachers got canned in favor of Spanish speakers. DUH!

Please stop posting as if you have any knowledge about the school whatsoever. You are obviously posting directly from your ass.

No. You're so much of a pro at, I'll leave that to you. Thank goodness I'm at a top charter. With idiots like you at Bethune, so glad I'm not there. Too bad for the kids, though!

I did the summer program at Bethune and I have to say, it was a wonderful, wonderful program. You seem very angry for someone who isn't even at the school.

[Anonymous]

How am I angry? I'm just stating a fact and a Bethune booster got mad and started with insults. It's a fact that expansion of Spanish at Bethune would be implausible because it would result in the removal of English oy teachers. Simple. Why are you guys so angry about the truth being told?

[Anonymous]

Bethune boosters are giving Sela boosters a run for their money! Everyone know a Spanish "class" is insufficient to maintain fluency, so could someone provide "facts" as to why this is the model. And all of the kids are taking DC CAS, so that excuse doesn't fly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How am I angry? I'm just stating a fact and a Bethune booster got mad and started with insults. It's a fact that expansion of Spanish at Bethune would be implausible because it would result in the removal of English oy teachers. Simple. Why are you guys so angry about the truth being told?

It is annoying that you are claiming with authority that the reason they do not expand the immersion model is so that they will not have to fire black teachers. That is false. You clearly have no understanding of the racial make-up of the school since you are not a parent there. I would like the immersion model to be expanded, and perhaps it will in future years. However, the administration has decided for the time being, that they need to put a premium on English instruction for their older students. Your runaway theory that this is to protect certain teachers is utter bullshit.

[Anonymous]

^^ Does that make any sense to you? I hope you're not that dumb. It's a lot easier to say that Spanish won't be expanded to "concentrate" on English that we don't want to displace black teachers. Duh!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^ Does that make any sense to you? I hope you're not that dumb. It's a lot easier to say that Spanish won't be expanded to "concentrate" on English that we don't want to displace black teachers. Duh!

I hope you're not as racist in real life as you're coming across here.

[Anonymous]

How is stating the truth racist? I'm black by the way! Stupidity knows no racial boundaries. Instead of pathetically pulling the race card and making Bethune look pathetic, why don't you tell the truth. It's dishonest to stand behind an out of touch position (the need to concentrate on English) and get pissed when you're called out. If the school needs to concentrate on English for upper grades, why no plans to expand for lower grades? The answer is obvious- current English only teachers would be displaced. Why is this so hard for you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem is getting in, in the first place. It's all by lottery, they all give preferences to siblings and have 100s on their waitlists.

Yu Ying does not accept new students after 2nd although there has been rumors that they may change this to 1st. There is also a possibility that they'll add 100% Mandarin preK3 soon.

I saw their school news letter that they were considering this. Interesting to 100% mandarin for PS3 and PK4

It's b/c of the DC CAS. They cannot expand the Mandarin in the latter grades so the only way to get more Mandarin is to front load it. Also, many kids have younger sibs - will make it easier to have the preschool kid at the same school as the older sib.

plus, that age is ideal for language learning - the kids truly have a chance at fluency! Age 7 is about the end of fluency capability on average (every child is different, this is an average)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is stating the truth racist? I'm black by the way! Stupidity knows no racial boundaries. Instead of pathetically pulling the race card and making Bethune look pathetic, why don't you tell the truth. It's dishonest to stand behind an out of touch position (the need to concentrate on English) and get pissed when you're called out. If the school needs to concentrate on English for upper grades, why no plans to expand for lower grades? The answer is obvious- current English only teachers would be displaced. Why is this so hard for you?

Why do you even care, if you're so happy at your top charter?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is stating the truth racist? I'm black by the way! Stupidity knows no racial boundaries. Instead of pathetically pulling the race card and making Bethune look pathetic, why don't you tell the truth. It's dishonest to stand behind an out of touch position (the need to concentrate on English) and get pissed when you're called out. If the school needs to concentrate on English for upper grades, why no plans to expand for lower grades? The answer is obvious- current English only teachers would be displaced. Why is this so hard for you?

Are you also an English teacher at Bethune? Now it makes sense.

[Anonymous]

^^ You people are crazy. Answer the dang question. Would teachers get displaced or not by the addition of an expanded Spanish program or not? If yes, would the majority of the displaced teachers be AA? This isn't hard. What is are the games being played.

[Anonymous]

Unless you're honest about the challenges you can't fix them. If displacing teachers is one- as it is at many schools in the District- a plan needs to be considered to address this. But pretending like there's a need to focus on English for upper grades and remaining silent about lower grades is a disservice to students and parents with interest in Bethune.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can Bethune switch a 50/50 model and retain black teachers or not. This is really a simple debate to squash. Either they can or can't. Also, why haven't they already changed with all of these spanish-speakers coming out of the wood work there.

Philosophical question: is the function of a school to educate children or to retain teachers, whatever their race?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bethune boosters are giving Sela boosters a run for their money! Everyone know a Spanish "class" is insufficient to maintain fluency, so could someone provide "facts" as to why this is the model. And all of the kids are taking DC CAS, so that excuse doesn't fly.

Good point. The fireworks when/ if Bethune starts offering Hebrew can become quite spectacular.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can Bethune switch a 50/50 model and retain black teachers or not. This is really a simple debate to squash. Either they can or can't. Also, why haven't they already changed with all of these spanish-speakers coming out of the wood work there.

Philosophical question: is the function of a school to educate children or to retain teachers, whatever their race?

Ask the DC Teachers Union. I'm sure they'd have an answer for you!