Reply to Discussion over whether to expand Tyler dual-lang program turns to gentrification debate

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[quote=Anonymous]New WaPo story on the Tyler community meeting about the future of its dual-language program. Parents are concerned that once a school becomes fully-dual language it becomes wealthier and whiter, while 80% of the city is at-risk.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/are-dual-language-programs-in-urban-schools-a-sign-of-gentrification/2018/07/03/926c4a42-68c2-11e8-9e38-24e693b38637_story.html?utm_term=.5524ec264f49

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"...a mother with a rising first-grader in Tyler’s creative-arts program, said she wants her child to focus on learning core subjects and thinks emphasizing a second language could impede that. Norde, who is African American and a native Washingtonian, tied the increasing popularity of dual-language programs to the city becoming more white and Hispanic, and she doesn’t see where her family fits in.

“The more white parents that get involved in the school, they are the ones pushing these agendas,” Norde said. “We have always been in that school, and we have never been pushing that agenda.”

"Parents said it’s logistically complicated to run two big programs in a single school. Tyler parents said that when families in the dual-language track advocate for more resources, it pits the programs against each other.

"Sheila Bunn, a parent with a rising third-grader at the Spanish program at Tyler, said she believes the dual-language track is the right fit for her daughter but knows it’s not for everyone. Bunn, the chief of staff for D.C. Council member Vincent C. Gray (D-Ward 7), said the city needs to nurture both programs.

“Because there is one segment that is more vocal about issues and concerns means that their concerns get addressed faster,” she said. “The school just needs to work better at making sure both voices are heard.”[/quote]

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