Ethics

(1) Bilingual education has helped to provide a positive learning experience for students that speak English as a second language.  Unfortunately, there has been political opposition to bilingual programs coming from conservative groups. Some of whom argue that bilingual programs handicap language-minority students , and other groups argue that bilingual programs are not fair to European Americans because they give minorities an advantage (Campbell, 2010).  The public debate on bilingual education forces a choice between ones native language and English.  However, people seem to be forgetting that being bilingual is an asset.  Opponents of bilingualism support the idea that having only one language will help unify the nation.

(2) Bilingual education enriches the learning process and helps promote academic success.  When schools provide children quality education in their primary language, they give them two things knowledge and literacy.  The knowledge that children get through their first language helps make the English they read and hear more comprehensible, (Krashen, 1997).  However, because many language-minorities have succeeded without bilingual programs, opponents use this as one reason to argue against the programs.  Furthermore, critics claim that there is little evidence that bilingual programs are more effective than English only programs.

(3) A 16 year old student was suspended from school because he was heard speaking Spanish in the hall.  The school had no official policy, and had clearly violated the students civil rights.  This situation was not just about a student speaking Spanish.  Conflicts are bursting out nationwide over bilingual education, English-only laws, Spanish-language publications and advertising, and other linguistic collisions.  Language concerns have been a key aspect of the growing political movement to reduce immigration, (Heller, 2006).  The student represents a fear that the American society has related to a loss of U.S. jobs, lack of healthcare, and other social problems.

(4) Although some politicians believe that the government should not be paying for bilingual assistance, the house supports bilingual ballots in 31 states.  Many non-English speakers are U.S. citizens, and therefore they have the right to vote. Opposing politicians support the view that if people have the right to vote, the least they can do is to vote in English.