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Succeeding in school requires more than just learning English. It also requires learning the content that goes with math, social studies, English literature and science.

Kids who are immersed in English-only classes with no extra support (which is what Measure 58 proposes) may learn the basics of English, but they lose 2-4 years of CONTENT instruction while they're figuring out the language. So, these kids are then far behind their peers.

Why not keep them up to speed in content (either through their native language, which happens rarely in Oregon anyway) or through extra support. Then when they're language skills are firmly in place, they're not behind their peers and they can perform at grade level.

Could you go to China and start learning a new subject in Chinese? Of course not. If you wanted to study physics in China, you'd have to first learn Chinese and then learn physics. Wouldn't it be more efficient to study physics in English AND learn Chinese at the same time so that you'd get the knowledge of physics and the knowledge of the language all at the same time? Then you could use your knowledge of physics to help you understand Chinese better.

I don't want kids to learn English at the expense of learning anything else. I want them to learn both English and subject content. That's why I oppose Measure 58.

posted 4 years, 7 months ago
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