Oct 2, 2006 4:32 pm US/Central
Some DISD Bilingual Teachers Don't Speak English
by Sarah Dodd
DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ―
The Dallas Independent School District recently started a new program for bilingual education, and hired bilingual teachers to lead specialized classrooms. The goal of this pilot program is to eventually transition Spanish speaking students into classes that are taught in English. A total of 15,000 Spanish speaking students are currently enrolled in these bilingual education classrooms.
The program is getting a second look, however.
School board trustee Ron Price is raising concerns because some of the teachers do not actually speak English. "We have several teachers here who do not speak English at all," said Price, "and they are in our bilingual program."
Over 300 teachers hired specifically to teach Spanish speaking students as a part of this bilingual program are not even residents of the United States. They were given $4000 stipends and $500 signing bonuses.
If these teachers really do not speak English, Price worries that a dangerous divide will eventually emerge. "We are creating a language segregation," he said.
Education activist Allen Gwinn echoes that concern.
Gwinn said that district officials have acknowledged that some teachers in the bilingual education program cannot pass tests proving proficiency in speaking the English language.
"I think it's a band-aid," Gwinn said. "Placate high profile officials who probably don't have the best interest of our kids."
After two days of requests, DISD administrators issued this written response: "The State of Texas and federal 'No Child Left Behind' regulations prevent the district from hiring teachers who do not speak the language."
(CBS 11 News)
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