More teachers needed, not more interpreters
The letter writer (Pachovia Kimes, March 19) who addressed the issue of below-average performance of diverse-language students was of the opinion that what would assist these students was for more interpreters to be hired. I disagree. Teachers to teach the English language would be a better way to spend our funds.
I trained and taught adults and children with disabilities for more than 30 years. If you want to consider a population that has an unfair start in life, look to those struggling every day to fit into our society. With tools like language, academics and adaptive skills, many are working successfully in the community today.
The non-English-speaking student is not new — from the time of our inception as a great nation, such students were being taught in our schools. The answer was to teach them English. Children learn faster than adults so there is no better time to equip these children with this tool. This tool will give our children the opportunities for higher education, better jobs and leadership roles. I do not believe this is a two-nation society but a many-nation society — the mixing pot of the world. Let us give our children a tool, not a crutch.
Shirley Collura
Greensboro
Comments (2)
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I agree with the letter writer. Students who cannot speak and write in English should be placed in special classes and taught English skills. They should stay in these special classes until they are proficient in English. To put these students into regular classes is criminal. It disrupts the learning of students who can speak English, it takes the time of the teacher away from other students, it frustrates and discourages the students who cannot speak English. We have many students who cannot speak and write English. They are not going to go away. We must find a way to help them and it must be immediate, not a plan for the future.
Posted on April 3, 2007 6:45 AM
I agree with the letter writer but prefer to use the term "our children" on American citizens.
Posted on April 3, 2007 9:58 AM