Bilingual education programs emerged for nonEnglish speakers from "summary" of History of American Education by David Boers
The emergence of bilingual education programs for non-English speakers marked a significant shift in the American educational landscape. These programs aimed to address the needs of students who were not proficient in English and struggled to keep up with their English-speaking peers. By providing instruction in both English and the students' native language, these programs sought to facilitate academic success and promote cultural and linguistic diversity in schools. Bilingual education programs were developed in response to the growing number of non-English speaking students entering American schools. These students faced numerous challenges in the traditional English-only classroom, including difficulty understanding lessons, communicating with teachers and peers, and completing assignments. As a result, many non-English speakers fell behind academically and struggled to fully participate in the educational experience. The implementation of bilingual education programs aimed to bridge this linguistic and cultural gap by providing students with instruction in both English and their native language. This approach allowed students to develop academic skills in their native language while simultaneously acquiring English proficiency. By maintaining a focus on both languages, these programs sought to support students' cognitive development, academic achievement, and overall well-being. Furthermore, bilingual education programs were designed to celebrate and validate students' cultural and linguistic backgrounds. By incorporating students' native languages and cultures into the curriculum, these programs promoted diversity, equity, and inclusion in schools. Students were able to see themselves reflected in the educational experience, which contributed to a sense of belonging and pride in their heritage.- The emergence of bilingual education programs represented a significant step towards creating more equitable and inclusive educational opportunities for non-English speaking students. These programs aimed to support students academically, linguistically, and culturally, while also promoting diversity and multiculturalism in schools. By recognizing and valuing students' linguistic diversity, bilingual education programs sought to empower students to succeed academically and thrive in a diverse society.
