To the Editor:
Your article about dual language and ESL programs was very interesting. However, there is one important fact that was omitted: there are students for whom Spanish is not their primary language; according to the Providence Public Schools, there are 31 different languages that students speak at home. While Spanish is by far the largest group, there are these other groups, and they are not being served well. In fact, anecdotal evidence shows that these students are learning Spanish, not English. This is a problem that doesn’t seem to be addressed.
Ruth Breindel
To the Editor,
Re: Dual language education offers a vision for Providences schools.
Many thanks to the author and the PVDeye for giving us some good news about Providence Schools. It seems too hard to come by.
We are in a ripe time to expand Dual language education, as Mr. Arene-Morley proposes, in that Providence superintendent Dr. Javier Montañez helped found the dual language program at Leviton. The state could allow him a greater leadership role in the school department rather than having him serve as a functionary of RIDE.
Of course, for the Providence schools there is no Magic Cure-all: Even dual language schools need better curricular options beyond the state approved high-quality curricula in all the subject areas.
Political will and strategic thinking might fill mono-lingual vacancies and dual-language needs if there were affordable or subsidized teacher training for DL, and teachers looking to transfer Spanish-language credentials could take the certification tests in their native language in order to teach here in Rhode Island, as reported by WPRI last Spring.
Why not solidify and amplify partnerships with the city’s MANY colleges and universities with teacher certification programs, as well as with alternative programs like RISPE that focuses on getting training and qualifications for teachers of color, especially?
And, all residents of Providence would do well to encourage their council people to support a resolution backing the recommendations of the Zurier Commission’s report.
Our city and its schools have so many positive resources to activate for our students.
Catlin Preston
Providence resident and
Social and Emotional Care Coordinator at Nuestro Mundo Public Charter School
Link: https://samzurier.com/wp-content/uploads/PPSD-Report-3.5-DRAFT.pdf
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