The purpose of the Bilingual Program for physically handicapped children was to provide a learning environment in which handicapped children who do not speak English or who speak with difficulty would be able to function in their native language. Emphasis was placed on the children improving their native language along with learning English as a…

Questioning the process by which language minority students are taught literacy in the United States, this paper argues that language skills, including reading, should not be taught in isolation, and that learning, not literacy, should be the guiding force for educators. The paper first discusses the special reading problems of the language…

As an aid in preservice and inservice teacher education, this handbook is intended to produce a vocational instructor who understands the rationale of bilingual education, is sensitive to the special needs of bilingual and limited-English-proficient (LEP) vocational students, and is not afraid to try new teaching techniques. The six chapters,…

The identification of critical writing skills was the first step in a project designed to specify language skills that should be included in instruments for assessing students' entry into and exit from bilingual classrooms. Writing skills were screened according to three criteria: appearance on state or local competency lists, textbook emphasis,…

After reviewing recent legal decisions on bilingual education, this report describes the goals and requirements of a bilingual program in a New York City community school district with a large number of Spanish speaking pupils, and the methods by which these goals were to be attained. The training and responsibilities of staff are discussed, with…

This study presents a rationale for working with the principles of transactional analysis (TA) in the bilingual/bicultural classroom, particularly to develop the child's self-concept. The two basic premises of TA are that all human beings have a fundamental worth that is neither increased nor decreased by anything they may do or refrain from…

It is required by Michigan Public Act 294 that local school districts having an enrollment of 20 or more students of limited English-speaking ability establish and operate bilingual instruction programs, and that the State Board of Education approve a testing mechanism suitable for evaluating the proficiency in English language skills of students…

Immigrant education and Language Shelter programs for Finnish speakers living in Sweden are discussed in answer to Cora Brent-Palmer's criticism that a middle class bias exists in the Swedish educational system. She claims that the system operates against the academic opportunities and employment success of Finnish immigrants. However, it is…

There is wide variability in the type and degree of bilingualism exhibited by persons from the various Spanish-speaking groups in the USA. Within particular subcultural groups, there is significant variability among individuals in the use of language patterns. An empirical study investigated the use of language pattern in specified social contexts…

There have been four major court decisions affecting bilingual education: Lau v. Nichols, Serna v. Portales, Aspira v. the New York Board of Education and Keyes v. Denver School District No. 1. Lau v. Nichols was an action brought by non-English-speaking Chinese-origin students claiming to be denied an education because they could not comprehend…

This issue of "Legal Memorandum" attempts to define some of the legal obligations of school districts to students for whom English is a second language. The Civil Rights Act prohibited discrimination in any federally funded program and an HEW directive reinforced this. HEW instructed school districts with more than 5 per cent national…

The self-described helplessness of some school districts in coping with linguistically heterogeneous groups of children (especially Spanish-speaking children) is more an admission of general educational inadequacy than a failure of bilingual education. With minimal effort and cost, a school district can offer unique learning situations that suit…

Bilingual education in English and Spanish is intended to give native speakers of both languages insights into two cultures, a broader background, and greater life opportunities. Spanish-speaking students in bilingual programs can retain their language ties and the ability to communicate with their families and older relatives. The directors of…

The major instrument employed in the evaluation of the functioning of the bilingual mini-school was an observation schema developed by the evaluators over a two year period. The major purpose of the observation scale was to develop a dynamic feedback system or process. Second, it was felt that it was important to obtain a direct measure of the…

The present paper reports on a study conducted in 1973, designed to measure the English competence and performance of bilingual fourth graders in selected schools in southern Arizona and the extent to which the first language (Spanish) interfered with the second (English). The study also attempted to determine which patterns might yet be unlearned…