Bilingual Education

Bilingual education is not something that is offered on the normal curriculum of just any school.  One may be more apt to find bilingual education offered in schools where a large number of non-English speaking people reside.  Schools that do offer bilingual education teach students main subjects, such as science, social studies and math in the child’s native tongue, but also offer classes in the English language.
 
With bilingual education, children may learn both to speak, read and write English fluently, but will not lose the value of their own language.  Nor with bilingual education will they fall behind on other subjects because of not understanding it if only offered in English. However, bilingual education is only temporary, usually no more than three years.  This way, it is hoped that with the years spent with bilingual education the student will more readily adapt to English only classes. 

Bilingual education has proved to be very beneficial, especially since it enables children to successfully live in the United States, and at the same time doesn’t contaminate their ability to hold on to their native tongue. One may think that bilingual education has become a product of modern times, what with immigrants streaming to the United States.  However, history shows that bilingual education was already put into practice as early as 1839!  By the turn of the century, thousands were taking advantage of bilingual education.

History also shows that during and immediately following the war years, bilingual education lost out in popularity. Bilingual education saw  resurgence in the 1960s, with the passing of the Bilingual Education Act. Bilingual education also is beneficial in that it encourages students to respect different cultures and nationalities.

The most prominent group of students that may benefit from bilingual education is the Spanish speaking population.  Bilingual education is not, however, mandatory for these children.  To this day it remains on optional choice.