With waivers, bilingual classes are staying alive in some areas
Mark Twain once said, "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated." The same might be said about bilingual education in the aftermath of Proposition 227. While the voter initiative dismantled native-language instruction in many school districts, bilingual programs are thriving in others.
Caitlin Weissleder and Esperanza Alfaro at Nokomis Elementary School in Ukiah.
In San Bernardino, for example, a lot of parents signed waivers to keep their children in bilingual classes, says Mikki Cichocki, a San Bernardino Teachers Association member who serves as chair of CTA State Council's Language Acquisition Committee. "Not every kid applied for a waiver, but most kids are still in bilingual programs. The programs are more concentrated now - at fewer facilities - and students are bused to them."
If anything, says Cichocki, Prop. 227 galvanized parents into protecting bilingual classes in her community. "It made them more active and involved in advocating for their kids. They want their kids to come out bilingual and bi-literate."
Bilingual education has "certainly been reduced in Ukiah, but we're staying alive," says Alexandra Condon, a United Teachers of Ukiah (UTU) member. "Some schools offer primary language instruction to students on waivers, and we have a strong commitment to honoring parental waivers."
Isaias Torres uses dual immersion to teach third-graders.
"In a community like mine, it's much easier to get a job if you're bilingual," adds Condon. "We should embrace the fact that children know two languages. As for Spanish-speaking children, by honoring their language, we are honoring them as human beings."
Ukiah's dual immersion program at Nokomis Elementary School has a waiting list - for both Anglo and Hispanic students. The program teaches Hispanic students English and Anglo students Spanish - together in one classroom - by offering curriculum in both languages. Presently there is a dual immersion program for kindergarten through third grade; next year fourth-graders will participate.
"It's pretty popular here," says Isaias Torres, who teaches a third-grade dual immersion class at Nokomis. "Parents request it. By the time students are in sixth grade, they can speak and write at grade level in both languages."
"You have native English speakers who are role models for Spanish native speakers, and vice versa," says Torres, a UTU member. "There is true interacting and mixing. The kids get along great and do everything together. They sleep over at each other's houses. There is even a Familia parent group, where parents get to know each other and have potlucks."
Students in his class are savvy about the benefits of speaking and writing in two languages. "We can get much more money from jobs where we speak two languages than in jobs where people only know English," says blonde Caitlin Weissleder, who speaks fluent Spanish.
"I'm not in it for the money; I just like to translate," says her good friend, Esperanza Alfaro.
Torres, a former migrant student, says students in his classroom benefit from having high self-esteem - and knowing that both languages are valued equally. "I can talk to everybody," says Jessica Garibay proudly. "Not everyone can do that."
At nearby Pomolita Middle School, UTU member Agustin Sandoval teaches a Spanish class for native Spanish speakers. "The purpose is to educate students to the point where they can use their language to read and write - and have a better grasp of their Spanish," he says. "That, in turn, facilitates their learning of a second language - English. It also prevents them from forgetting their native language, which can happen over a long period of time."
In Southern California, Vista has not only retained bilingual programs, but improved them, says Randy Wiens, president of the Vista Teachers Association. "Before Prop. 227, the emphasis on transitioning kids into English was lost to some degree. There was a tendency to keep them in bilingual education longer. Prop. 227 helped us refocus on the real purpose of bilingual education - transitioning limited English proficient kids into English. Now we do it faster and more efficiently."
Vista, he says, interpreted Prop. 227 as a "parent decision" initiative that allows choice, rather than as a decision to ban all bilingual education. It also allows choice for teachers who want to continue teaching in bilingual classrooms.
"In media coverage, Vista has taken a lot of hits about not following the law," he says. "But here in Vista, we don't see it that way at all."
Caitlin Weissleder and Esperanza Alfaro at Nokomis Elementary School in Ukiah.
Isaias Torres uses dual immersion to teach third-graders.
