Should non-native English speakers be taught separately?
11/13/2013 by Leave a Comment
Los Angeles is now finding itself at the center of a controversy: the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has introduced a policy to separate non-native English speakers from native English speakers in elementary school classrooms.
According to a recent article, the LAUSD is saying that when the students are mixed together, the native English speakers pick up “Spanglish” and not proper English. While the article agrees that the plan “makes sense on paper,” it continues to say that “the execution of such of a plan would make Spanish-speaking students feel like aren’t as intelligent or valuable because they lack the fluency of ‘mainstream’ students.”
The policy is being protested as many are seeing this plan as a type of segregation.
But what do other educators think?
“Honestly, I feel like there are a lot of variables that go into this other than ELL (English Language Learner) or not ELL,” Amy C., a high school teacher, said. “There are tests students can take to give them a level of proficiency. Based on their levels, they could be placed in higher or lower level classes. If they have NO English skills what-so-ever, that’s a whole other story. There has to be some sort of basis to start from.”
A mother of a kindergartner was quoted in a recent opinion article saying, “Kids learn from their peers, and