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but our schools focus upon philosophy and policy debates instead of approaching the job with common sense.

Or course the parents of Bilingual students have the long-term, best interest of their children at heart. But, debating educators seldom listen to, or hear, the voice of reason from the children's parents.

Parents of Bilingual students are coerced, tricked, forced into placing their children into ineffectual Bilingual programs by school district officials because...

1.) The school district receives more money from the state for these programs

2.) There may be too few students in the Bilingual classes, and the English-only teachers complain about the unbalanced class loads

3.) English-only teachers complain about the extra "work" and individualized help that the Bilingual student requires if placed in an English-only class

4.) Placement in the English-only class, and providing after school tutoring (maybe even afterschool transportation) costs too much money

5.) Etc.

Real education that focuses upon the life of each student and real education provides an individualized path to lifelong learning. Real education is expensive, and our country does not have the political will to pay for such a program.

So, before debating the superiority of one philosophy over another, inspect the entire system and find the variables that impact Bilingual students' successes.

But above all, listen to the parents of these Bilingual students, and teach the students English. Skill in English is, in the next 10 to 20 years, the key to economic success in our country.

Learn more about this author, Joseph Chmielewski.
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