If You Speak Two Languages, You Are Bilingual. If You Speak One Language, You Are American

The United States continues to neglect and fails to utilize its many cultures and languages. These languages and cultures are valuable resources that can be used to prepare students for the international competitive economy. School boards must decide what role bilingual and multicultural education will play. Critics charge that bilingual and multicultural education are unnecessary, expensive, and threaten American education. But an increasing percentage of students require bilingual education. The issue of languages and multiculturalism in American education has a long and varied history. Today, the number and variety of students requiring bilingual and multicultural education is increasing. All these students, as well as monolingual students, must be prepared to be successful in the next century. Many people, however, have conflicting views on bilingual education, supporting second-language instruction, but opposing ethnic language instruction for language minority students. School boards must decide what kind of education non- and limited-English-speaking students will receive. They must keep in mind the increasing numbers of these students and the cost to the United States in lost opportunities and productiveness if students are not educated well. (JPT)