Bilingual Multicultural Education: Issues, Research, Rationale.

Overview & Synopsis

Issues related to the future of bilingual education are discussed in this brief paper. Points of controversy concerning bilingual education are pointed out and three philosophical approaches to, or models for, bilingual education are briefly described. The view of critics who see bilingual education as educationally unsound are mentioned and data about the educational experience of culturally diverse populations in the United States are introduced as part of an argument that a return to past practices requiring cultural assimilation is not a justifiable policy. It is further argued that such traditional educational practices violate basic American principles of freedom and human rights. Research findings countering the view that bilingualism is an outward sign of poor intellectual functioning are cited. Additional studies, indicating the positive outcomes of bilingual abilities and programs, are cited and briefly described, and it is concluded that the growth of the Hispanic population necessitates the attainment of some semblance of equal educational opportunity. (Author/RH)