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

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I thought the story was poorly done - I’m still not sure why low income families don’t want dual language.  The only reason they gave was bc they don’t have time to help with homework, but I don’t speak Spanish and wouldn’t be able to help my kid with Spanish homework either.  Seemed like wapo wanted to just debate the issue without proviiding  all the facts.[/quote]

Because if you are not at grade level in your native language and have poor test scores in English and Math, dual language is not a good fit. it's not like speaking two-languages brings advantages just by itself otherwise the local Latino students would overall be doing a lot better at DCPS, at most schools AA and Latino families are two subgroups that need more support. This argument is never clearly articulated when talking about the introduction of dual-language programs. [/quote]

I’m the PP you responded to - this is very helpful, thank you! So is the issue that bc they aren’t up to grade level in English and math, dual language exacerbates the problem because they can’t concebtrate on the core subjects and parents also can’t help bc they don’t have time or speak the second language?[/quote]

white high SES mom here. It's not only about the kids not being on grade level - it's that instruction in a different language just adds another complication and pretty big barrier between parents and teachers.  My kid entered K not knowing how to read and write, and I'm glad I and his teachers could just focus in that without the added layer. Plus, I have serious doubts about the effectiveness of the immersion model. Our K teacher focused like a laser on Englisj literacy using her decades of experience and a research-based curriculum. She would not have been able to do that in an immersion model -- there would have simply been less time. Also, who are the immersion teachers? An immersion model means that the pool of effective, experienced teachers is smaller. [/quote]

I think it’s perfectly within the normal range not to be reading before K. I would not hold back a kid from learning a foreign language for that reason.[/quote]

Even the data showing that most students do well in a dual language curriculum, and in some cases out perform their peers, shows that students in dual language will lag a bit in both ELA and spanish reading and writing until 5th grade, at which time they will catch up with their monolingual peers. It requires a leap of faith, and if you aren't sure you are going to stay in the model through the terminal grade of the school, you kid may have gaps or struggle a little.

I do agree with the PP re teh equity issue around students with disabilities; this is a big problem of neighborhood schools being all dual language, especially in DCPS. They do not do a good job at ALL, or supporting kdis with even minor disabilities who shuld be able to achieve biliteracy with appropriate, bilingual supports.

FWIW the dual language charters can't counsel out these students -- or divert them to their monolingual alternative schools -- the way DCPS can and does.

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