How Bilingual Education Has Changed

How Biligual Education Has Changed

Period: Jun 19, 1700 to Jun 21, 2020

U.S Government signs a treaty with Cherokee Tribes. The U.S Government recognizes the language rights of the Cherokee Tribes. Eventually a twenty one school educational system achives a 90 percent literacy rate in Cherokee (Diaz-Rico, Lynne T, 2012).

Articles of Confederation

Jun 19, 1781

U.S Articles of Confederation were written in English, French and German .Early Acknowledgment of U.S multilingualism on the part of the Founding Fathers. (Diaz-Rico, Lynne T, 2012). The Articles of Confederation were the first framework for the government of the USA. They were enough of a structure, for the nation to survive during those eight years (1781-1789).

European Americans Settle Western U.S

Jun 19, 1800

European Americans settle Western U.S. Mexicans and Indians are excluded from Whites only schools. (Diaz-Rico, Lynne T, 2012). This date is very important in the history of the United States because since 1800s until now, America is home for many different background people.

Cherokee Treaty

Jun 19, 1828

U.S Government signs treaty with Cherokee Tribes. The US government recognizes the language rights of the Cherokee Tribes. Eventually a 21 school educational system achieves a 90 percent literacy rate in Cherokee (Diaz-Rico, Lynne T, 2012). This must be a very important date for the Indians as the Governement recognizes the language rights of the Cherokee Tribes. I believe back in those days, overcoming a milestone such as the Cherokee Treaty was a big succcess.

Ohio Bilingual Education Law

Jun 19, 1839

Biligual Act EducationOhio passes the first law to officially allow Bilingual Education.
The law permitted German-English instruction upon the request of the parent.Cincinnati’s first bilingual school was founded to aid the large German population (Rethinking Online Schools,1998).
This law is a very significant change in lives of students who were struggling in learning English and learning their first language. I believe many immigrants must have had the most benefit out of this law.

English Only Schools

Jun 19, 1864

Congress passes a law that prohibits Native Americans from being taught in their own languages. The Federal Government forces Native American children to attend off-reservation schools (Rethinking Schools, 2002-2003). I can imagine how sad the Native American students must have been by entering an English only schools. Being sent to off-reservation schools as a punishment must have been like a nightmare for the Native American students and their families.

New Mexico Law

Jun 19, 1870

New Mexico passes a law recognizing and permitting Spanish instruction in public elementary schools (Lifetime Learning Systems, 1996). New Mexico's action by passing this law was getting a step closer to a diverse education opportunity for the people of New Mexico.

Bennett Act (Wisconsin) & Edwards Act (Illinois)

Jun 22, 1889

In 1888, Assemblyman Michael Bennett of Dodgeville introduced a bill requiring stricter enforcement of attendance in both public and private schools and requiring the use of English in all schools(Wisconsin Histoy.org, 2015). The Edwards Law of 1889 required that all parochial and public schools in Illinois teach in English. Germans were outraged. instruction to gain momentum (Sakash, 2005).

Nationality Act

Jun 22, 1906

Congress’ first federal language law requiring that all immigrants seeking naturalization speak English. The law theoretically should have solved the Bilingual Education issue (Pérez, 2004). This is a significant change in the history of America. I personally support this law because becoming when one becomes the citizen of a country, it should be mandatory to at least know the language and historical background of that country. After all a citizen represents the name of a country.

National Defense Education Act

Jun 22, 1958

This act provided aid to both public and private schools at all levels to advance the areas of science, math, and modern foreign languages.The act also provided aid to English as a Second Language programs (AECT, 2001). Whenever I think of this law, I think of a race or competition between America and the Soviet Union. But at least, it was a very good decision by providing funds to schools and collges in order to promot the rate of scientific research.

Amendment to the Bilingual Education Act

Jun 22, 1982

Terrence Bell, Secretary of Education, saw the guidelines in the Bilingual Education Act as too inflexible.
Lawmakers amended the act, offering Title VII programs the option of using English-only instruction. Amendments to
Title VII allow for some native language maintenance, provide program funding for LEP students with special needs, support family English literacy programs, and emphasize importance of teacher training (Texas Education Agency Bilingual/ESL Unit, 2004)

Proposition 187 (California)

Jun 22, 1994

Proposition 187 is introduced to deny illegal immigrants (or those suspected of being so) health care, social services, and public education. In November of 1994, the issue was brought to the voters, where it received 59% of the votes in its favor, and became a law. Its constitutionality was immediately challenged and three days after Election Day, a temporary restraining was placed on the new law (Migration News, 1994).

Reference

Jun 21, 2015

Migration News, 1994 “Prop. 187 Approved in California” [Online document].Retrieved from https://migration.ucdavis.edu/mn/more.php?id=492 Rethinking schools online, 1998 “History of Bilingual Education” [Online Facsimile].Retrieved from http://www.odec.umd.edu/CD/POLITICS/biledhist.pdf
Rethinking schools, 2002-2003 “Bilingual Education Is A Human and Civil Right”[Web document].Retrieved from http://www.rethinkingschools.org/special_reports/bilingual/Bili172.shtml

Importance of historical and legislative foundations of multilingual competency in the United States

Jun 22, 2015

To understand the historical and legislative foundation of multilingual competency is great because it teaches us how long we have come in educational standards for ELLs. It can also show us what can be our shortcomings if we repeat the past. The guidelines we are given help set the foundation that allows us to base our educational practices into active and useful lessons to help students learn and grow. Being aware of the historical obstacles can help us avoid repeating the same past mistakes.

Reference

Jun 22, 2015

Sakash.Karen, 2005 “Bilingual Education” [Web document].Retrieved from http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/137.html Texas Education Agency Bilingual/ESL Unit, 2004 “Chronology of Federal and State Law & Policy Impacting Language Minority Students” [Web Document].Retrieved from http://www2.sfasu.edu/enlace/modules/Chronology of Federal Law Guiding ELL Policy and Practice from TEA.pdf

Reference

Jun 23, 2015

Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT), 2001 “National Defense Education Act (NDEA) of 1958” [Online document].Retrieved from http://aect.site-ym.com/?page=national_defense_edu
Bennett Law, Wisconsin, 1889-1890, “Wisconsin Historical Society Library” [Online facsimile] Retrieved from http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/search.asp?id=727

Reference

Jun 27, 2015

Bertha Pérez, 2004 “Becoming Biliterate: A Study of Two-Way Bilingual Immersion Education”. Retrieved from http://www.umich.edu/~ac213/student_projects05/be/notes.html#40
Diaz-Rico, Lynne T.2012 “A Course for Teaching English Learners” 2nd Edition. Pearson Learning Solutions.Vital Book file
Lifetime Learning Systems, 1996 “Events in the West” [Online document].Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/events/1870_1880.htm